The Utah Jazz are back at in on Tuesday night with a rematch at home vs. the San Antonio Spurs. Both clubs are banged up entering the contest, but the Jazz will be missing two key players.
Guards Jordan Clarkson (thumb sprain) and Collin Sexton (hamstring) have been ruled out of Tuesday night's action. Since the All-Star break, Sexton has missed back-to-back games with this pesky hamstring. This particular ailment has hounded him for much of the year.
The Jazz have won both games Sexton has missed recently, thanks, in large part, to the arrival and emergence of Kris Dunn. However, if the Jazz are going to maximize their stretch run ahead of the playoffs, they'll need Sexton back in the mix sooner rather than later.
Clarkson's thumb sprain is on his right hand (shooting), so Utah is playing it safe. Clarkson has averaged nearly 21 points per game in his first season as a bonafide starter in Utah.
While Clarkson has been eclipsed by All-Star Lauri Markkanen as the go-to guy, he's integral to Utah's ability to score and shoot from deep. For tonight, though, the Jazz will have to get by without him.
As for the Spurs, five players have been ruled out of Tuesday night's action. Absent will be Romeo Langford (thigh), Devin Vassell (knee), Tre Jones (foot), Khem Birch (knee), and Isaiah Roby (ankle).
The Jazz will be down two starters, but with San Antonio's laundry list of absentees, there will be no excuse for a loss. Any given night in the NBA, sure, but the Jazz have to win this one and get back into plus-.500 territory.
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