LaMelo Ball Questionable, Utah Jazz Host Suddenly Hot Hornets
Jan 23, 2023, 1:45 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 2:05 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will host former homegrown All-Star Gordon Hayward and the suddenly surging Charlotte Hornets at Vivint Arena Monday night.
The Hornets are winners of two straight and saw Hayward return to the lineup Saturday after an eight-game absence.
The Jazz meanwhile will look to get back to their winning ways after falling at home on Friday to the Brooklyn Nets.
Playoff Standings At Stake For Jazz
Entering their game against the Hornets, the Jazz sit one game below .500 and in the ninth seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
With a loss, the Jazz would fall to 11th in the West, behind the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder, both of whom are idle on Monday night.
The Jazz would also sit just half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the 11th seed with a loss, and could see the Portland Trail Blazers pull within an equal distance with a win over the San Antonio Spurs.
It's Monday but it is also a @utahjazz GAME DAY.
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— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 23, 2023
A Jazz win would push them back to .500, giving them a one-game lead on Golden State and Oklahoma City, and put them on even ground with the Phoenix Suns. It would also move the team a half-game back of the idle Los Angeles Clippers for the sixth seed in the West.
The Jazz will once again be without Kelly Olynyk due to an ankle sprain suffered on January 8 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Hornets Have Won Two Straight
The Hornets travel to Utah on the heels of just their second two-game winning streak of the season after beating the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks to begin their four-game road trip.
Charlotte last won two consecutive games on November 23 and 25 against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Made it to 📍Utah. #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/ookbT8Bq3N
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 23, 2023
Hayward returned to the lineup against Atlanta after missing eight games due to a hamstring injury. The former Jazzman scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out five assists in the win.
LaMelo Ball is listed as questionable against the Jazz with wrist and ankle soreness. The All-Star guard missed the Hornets’ last game.
Utah Jazz vs. Charlotte Hornets Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets will tip off at 7 pm MT in Salt Lake City. The game 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.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
