Across their most recent set of games, the Utah Jazz have been without a few key names within the lineup, one of those notable contributors being former Sixth Man of the Year winner Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson has been inactive for the Jazz’s past two contests, a stretch where the Jazz secured a 1-1 record. However, the good news for Utah is that we shouldn’t expect to see him stuck on the sidelines for much longer.

According to a report from the Jazz, Clarkson has been ruled questionable for their upcoming contest vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. It’s a step forward from his inactive status we’ve seen throughout the past week, and provides some added optimism for his potential return against a tough Eastern Conference opponent.

Clarkson has started his season with the Jazz averaging 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 39.0% shooting from the field, but a bleak 19.0% shooting from deep– even starting two nights in the backcourt along the way.

For a player like Clarkson, the numbers have seen better days, yet it’s well within reason to see such a spark plug get his efficiency turned around in due time, especially with such a long season ahead.

While nothing’s official yet when it comes to the word on Clarkson, expect his status to soon be finalized in the hours leading up to the tip-off of Jazz-Bucks, set to take place at 6 PM MT at Fiserv Forum.

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Republican Rep. John Curtis won a three-way general election on Tuesday to become Utah’s next junior U.S. senator.

Curtis bested Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich, a prominent environmental activist and mountaineer. He also defeated right-leaning Independent Carlton Bowen, who criticized him for not being sufficiently “pro-Trump.”

Curtis’s victory means that one moderate Republican will be replaced with another. In September 2023, Mitt Romney announced that he would not seek reelection, likely ending his career in electoral politics. 

Romney had represented Utah in the U.S. Senate since 2019, while also serving as Massachusetts Governor from 2003-2007. He was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 and lost to Barack Obama.

Utah, historically a Republican stronghold, has not elected a Democratic senator since 1970, according to the Associated Press.

 A new center-right voice for Utah 

Curtis, who once identified as a Democrat, has positioned himself as a bipartisan voice amid the complexities of contemporary politics. He has stated his support for Trump when the former president’s policies align with “Utah values.”

Throughout his campaign, Curtis emphasized key issues such as protecting public lands, increasing energy production, and fostering improved relations with China. His platform aims to resonate with a broad spectrum of Utah voters, reflecting the state’s combination of traditional conservative values and a pragmatic approach to governance.

More: Election 2024 live updates: Harris to speak; Trump policy foes not ‘giving up’

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

SALT LAKE CITY — A mix of old and new faces will represent the state of Utah when the U.S. House of Representatives convenes for a new session.

Republicans Burgess Owens and Blake Moore will return to Washington after winning reelection Tuesday, while fellow GOP Rep. Celeste Maloy was elected to serve a full term after winning a special election last year to serve out of the rest of Rep. Chris Stewart’s term.

The new face among Utah’s House delegation is Mike Kennedy, who defeated Democratic challenger Glenn Wright in the Congressional District 3 race to replace Rep. John Curtis, who ran for Mitt Romney’s Senate seat and won.

In Utah’s 4th Congressional District, Owens first won election to the House in 2020 and reelection two years later. On Tuesday, Owens defeated Katrina Fallick-Wang by a wide margin.

Moore, who has represented the state’s 1st Congressional District since also winning office in 2020, claimed victory of democrat Bill Campbell.

Maloy faced the most precarious challenge in returning to Washington, defeating primary opponent Colby Jenkins by just 176 votes in an election that eventually went to a recount.