Jordan Clarkson Ejected After ‘Unnecessary Contact’ Late Against Warriors
Dec 7, 2022, 9:37 PM | Updated: 10:01 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was ejected after getting tied up with Warriors second-year forward Jonathan Kuminga.
The Jazz hosted the Golden State Warriors at Vivint Arena on Wednesday, December 7.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 8, 2022
With the clock ticking down under 30 seconds in a two point game, Clarkson drove into the lane against Kuminga. Kuminga appeared to block Clarkson’s shot before coming down with the rebound.
The pair seemed to become tied up as they fought for the ball with Clarkson getting whistled for a foul.
The scene turned chaotic when several other players became involved, causing Clarkson to ‘square-up’ as though he wanted to fight.
Things got heated between Kuminga and Clarkson 👀 pic.twitter.com/96TDlq4P6g
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 8, 2022
After emotions calmed down and officials reviewed the tape, Clarkson was issued a flagrant-2 foul, resulting in the automatic disqualification.
Clarkson finished with 22 points and nine assists.
Malik Beasley and Kuminga were each issued technical fouls after the scuffle.
Trailing 123-119 after Kuminga knocked down the flagrant free throws, Utah unexpectedly scored took advantage of a pair of Warrior turnovers to score five straight points, coming back to beat Golden State 124-123.
LOOK AT THIS pic.twitter.com/8mLVftpxVb
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 8, 2022
Markkanen, Conley Out
Markkanen was added to the Jazz injury report late Wednesday due to an illness. The team did not offer an update on when the Finnish forward is expected to return to the lineup.
The Jazz star is averaging 22.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Conley was also scratched from the lineup despite returning to practice for the Jazz amid a rare three-day break after falling to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
The guard suffered a popliteus strain in his left knee in the Jazz win over Portland on November 19 but was listed as questionable by the team ahead of Wednesday night’s game.
Injury report:
OUT – Lauri Markkanen (illness)
OUT – Mike Conley (popliteus strain left leg)
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 7, 2022
“Each day is getting better, today was the first time practicing with contact and stuff,” Conley said Monday after practice. “The last week or so it’s been kind of transitioning from walking, to jogging, to running.”
RELATED: Conley Returns To Jazz Practice
The Jazz were 0-5 immediately following Conley’s injury but had won two straight games before Saturday’s loss.
Conley was averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 29.2 minutes per game for the Jazz before the injury.
Gay, meanwhile, was absent from the Jazz injury report after missing the team’s last 11 games with a sprained finger.
The veteran forward had been a regular off the bench this season averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest but leads the Jazz in plus-minus at +5.7.
Warriors Without Curry, Green, and Wiggins
The Warriors have struggled mightily on the road this season and will face a tough task in Utah without three starters in the lineup.
The @utahjazz hope to welcome Mike Conley back to the roster tonight.
Meanwhile, the @warriors will be without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins. #TakeNote https://t.co/idrvmEcqUD
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 7, 2022
Curry (ankle), Green (hip tightness), and Wiggins (right adductor strain) are each sitting out against the Jazz as the Warriors begin a stretch of eight games being played in eight different cities.
RELATED: Conley Questionable, Curry, Green Out As Jazz Host Warriors
The Warriors will travel home after facing the Jazz for one game against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, but heading out on a six-game East Coast road trip that concludes just before the Christmas holiday.
It’s a pivotal stretch for the Warriors who are just 2-10 on the road this season and sit a half-game behind the Jazz for the ninth seed in the Western Conference.
Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors Broadcast
💜 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘 💜
⏰ 7 PM MT
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📻 @kslsportszone
🎟 https://t.co/0f9Kg6JGKP#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/2uAMZb1XD8— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 7, 2022
The Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. It can also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.