Jazz Get Good News on Jordan Clarkson on Eve of Celtics Matchup
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Utah Jazz starting shooting guard Jordan Clarkson has missed six of the last seven games, including four straight, with a lingering thumb injury. The Jazz have tried to weather the storm, but it's been a battle.
With four days off to rest and recover between games, some good news arrived on Friday on the Clarkson front as the Jazz gathered to practice. KSL.com's Andy Larsen bore some glad tidings to Jazz Nation.
"Jordan Clarkson fully participated in practice today," Larsen tweeted on Friday.
While it doesn't serve as a guarantee that Clarkson will suit up on Saturday night at home vs. the Boston Celtics, it's a positive harbinger, obviously. After a brutal six-game road trip, the Jazz returned home on Tuesday to prepare for a four-game stretch in Salt Lake City.
With 13 games left to go, the 33-36 Jazz sit with the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference and are well within striking distance of a playoff berth. But staring down the barrel of the NBA's stiffest remaining schedule, the only chance Utah has of successfully navigating that gauntlet is getting its stars back.
Clarkson, and his nearly 21 points per game, would give the Jazz a nice boost for this stretch run. With 61 starts, he's having a career year as a newfound starter after his years spent as the first guy off the bench as Utah's sixth man.
Clarkson served in that role well, taking home the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2021. As a starter in 2022 under first-year head coach Will Hardy, Clarkson has undergone a career renaissance of sorts.
In conjunction with Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen and Rookie of the Year candidate Walker Kessler, Clarkson has given the team a nice foundational trio. It'll be interesting to see whether Clarkson opts to stay in Utah after the 2022-23 season.
Now, if the Jazz could also get starting point guard Collin Sexton back sometime soon, the team would be in the best position possible to make the most of what remains this regular season.
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