Jazz Sign Cheatham, Prepare For Cavaliers
Jan 12, 2022, 11:04 AM | Updated: 11:11 am
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell defended by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will have a new face when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Vivint Arena Wednesday.
The Jazz have signed Zylan Cheatham to a 10-day hardship contract as the team continues to deal with the COVID outbreak that has torn through the roster.
Cheatham most recently played with the G League’s Birmingham Squadron but has appeared in four career NBA games with the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019-20 season.
Jazz Look To Snap Three-Game Losing Streak
After winning 10 consecutive road games the Jazz have found themselves on the wrong side of a season-long three-game losing streak.
Though they were the last team in the NBA to get hit by the spread of Coronavirus this season, the Jazz will once again be extremely shorthanded when they host the Cavaliers.
OUT – Rudy Gobert (Health & Safety Protocols)
OUT – Elijah Hughes (Health & Safety Protocols)
QUESTIONABLE – Joe Ingles (Return to Competition Reconditioning)
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 12, 2022
Rudy Gobert, Rudy Gay, Elijah Hughes, Jared Butler, and Udoka Azubuike will all miss the Cleveland game while sitting in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Joe Ingles is listed as questionable as he returns to competition reconditioning and recently signee Norvel Pelle is questionable with a non-COVID illness.
Two-way forward Malik Fitts underwent an X-ray which revealed a wrist fracture and it will keep him off the floor for the next four weeks.
Cavaliers Continue Road Swing In Utah
The Jazz mark the fourth stop in a six-game road swing for the Cavaliers after bookending a loss to the Golden State Warriors with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.
The Cavaliers are just 4-6 in their last 10 games but have won three of their last five overall.
❔Can the Jazz defense improve without Rudy Gobert❔
📻: @ZoneSportsNet / @kslnewsradio
📺: AT&T SportsNet / @fuboTV
🎧: https://t.co/yTfV2Fd1rE#TakeNote @BensHoops pic.twitter.com/Ze8lYOkaxU— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 12, 2022
Former Jazzman Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending knee injury against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 28 which was partially to blame for a three-game Cavaliers losing streak, but the team has since recovered after trading for veteran Rajon Rondo.
After facing the Jazz, the Cavaliers will make stops in San Antonio and Oklahoma City to complete their road trip.
Broadcast
The Jazz and Cavaliers will tip-off at 7 pm MT and can be heard on KSL NewsRadio and The Zone Sports Network. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV.
