Utah Jazz: Hill, Burks & Exum OUT Against Los Angeles Lakers

While Utah Jazz guards George Hill and Alec Burks have resumed practicing with the team, the duo join Dante Exum on the scratch list against the LA Lakers.

Although the Utah Jazz haven’t played a game since their December 23 loss to the Toronto Raptors, things are going down in Jazzland. The big news coming out of the holiday break is that George Hill and Alec Burks have both returned to practice after lengthy absences.

In other words, the banged-up Jazz band is finally starting get healthy. It may not be happening as quickly as anyone would like, but things are slowly, but surely, starting to progress in the right direction for a squad that has lost a combined 90 games to injury already this season.

Unfortunately, progress doesn’t necessarily equal change. Not right away, that is, and fans looking for Hill and Burks to make their respective returns to the Jazz lineup in time for Tuesday’s road bout with Lou Williams and the Los Angeles Lakers are going to be disappointed come tip-off.

Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Monday evening that neither will play against the Lakers. Nor will Dante Exum, who continues to struggle with tendinitis of the left knee and is set to be reevaluated later this week.

Jones’ report was later confirmed with an announcement from the Jazz.

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So, once again, it’s close but no cigar for the Jazz. As was the case in their previous two contests, Shelvin Mack and Raul Neto will be the only point guards active for the Jazz.

Although the Lake Show currently sits at 12-22 on the year with losses in eight of the team’s last 10 games, these injuries could make it difficult for Utah to pull out the win. The Jazz are 4½ to 5-point favorites, but the Lakers are getting healthier themselves and were competitive in two previous match-ups this season.

Nevertheless, it remains a winnable game for the Jazz.