The bumps and bruises mount for the Utah Jazz heading into their preseason bout with Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors.
Game 2 of the 2018 preseason is upon us, as the Utah Jazz get set to take on Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors. Although the Raptors likely represent the stiffest competition the Jazz will face ahead of opening night, they’ll have to do so without a full deck for the second straight game.
Dante Exum (knee), Raul Neto (hamstring) and Trey Lewis (ankle) are all sitting out per the most recent Jazz injury report. Meanwhile, Derrick Favors (illness) who was listed as questionable on Monday, looks to be ready to go.
As has been stated in the past, a lot of these preseason injuries can be chocked up to precautionary measures. Save Neto, who will be out of commission until his medical re-evaluation next week, I wouldn’t anticipate any long-term complications here. That said, I trust that Jazz fans are knocking on wood right now.
Exum’s sore knee is not the same one that underwent reconstructive surgery two years ago. And he was moving well and playing with pace during Utah’s preseason debut against the Perth Wildcats. The 23-year-old played 21 minutes in the game and finished with a team-high six assists.
Jazz rookie Grayson Allen told the media on Tuesday that he expects to get more reps at the point guard position with Exum and Neto both out.
Grayson Allen said he's expecting to play some point guard tonight pic.twitter.com/YhaGCnkjww
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) October 2, 2018
As for Favors, the big man scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed five boards in 14 minutes of action against the Wildcats.
Elsewhere on the roster, Joe Ingles is seemingly good to go on the night of his 31st birthday. Ingles missed Utah’s exhibition opener with lower leg soreness. At Raptors shootaround, Leonard called Ingles one of the league’s best 3-point marksmen.
Look for Jazz coach Quin Snyder to tinker with different lineup combinations and give different players extended court time in light of the forthcoming DNPs. Alec Burks took advantage of his minutes in relief of Ingles on Saturday, scoring 18 points and knocking down four triples.
The Jazz and Raptors will tip things off from Vivint Smart Home Arena at 7 PM on Tuesday night.
UPDATED at 5:20 PM MT