TV: NBA TV
- The Utah Jazz are making a change in their starting lineup as Earl Watson will replace Jamaal Tinsley at point guard. Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin made the move with the hope that Watson will help push the pace and get the ball down the floor. Also, he said Tinsley is a little banged up and may play limited minutes tonight. “We got to find a way to get some easy baskets with that first group and hopefully this will be a way to do it,” Corbin said.
- The Boston Celtics are closing out a difficult five-game road trip tonight. It is their fifth game in seven days, and they’ve gone 1-3 so far on the trip. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he isn’t sure what to expect from his team tonight as it finishes off the road trip. “I think a lot of guys will play well and there will be a couple of guys that succumb to the five games in seven days,” Rivers said. “Hopefully I’m smart enough to see it and get them out in time. I’m hoping most of the guys are ready.”
- With this being the last game of Boston’s road trip, Rivers won’t be sitting any regulars as he did with Kevin Garnett when the Celtics played at Phoenix on Friday. Part of the reason for this is Boston only plays once in the next seven days. The veteran team will get its rest during that span, not tonight. It’s an odd scheduling stretch for the Celtics, going from five games in seven days to one in seven. “It seems like we could have spaced this stretch out, but I don’t make the schedule,” Rivers said.
- Gordon Hayward has played well for Utah since returning from a right shoulder sprain. He’s scored 40 points in his two games back after missing 10 straight contests. He had a game-high 23 in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. He also has a big fan in Rivers. “Hayward has been one of my favorites for a while,” Rivers said. “The staff laughs and say I have a man crush. I just like the way he plays. He’s a bright kid with skill and IQ. He’s athletic. He’s getting better and better.”
– Andrew Aragon
