Utah

Westbrook, Jazz open to ‘every possibility’

Published

2 years ago

February 10, 2023

Westbrook, Jazz open to ‘every possibility’

When the Utah Jazz traded for guard Russell Westbrook on Wednesday afternoon, the prevailing notion was that Utah would swiftly transfer to purchase Westbrook out, paving the best way for him to hit unrestricted company and signal with any workforce.

Which will but occur. However as we head into the weekend, it’s not fairly the layup that it appeared to be a couple of days in the past.

The Jazz and Westbrook have met and had a number of productive discussions surrounding his impending future as a member of the Jazz group. Because the Jazz begin a four-game street journey on Friday evening in Toronto towards the Raptors, there hasn’t been a choice made regarding Westbrook. However Westbrook, who got here to the Jazz from the Lakers and has had a Corridor of Fame profession, has expressed a willingness to remain in Utah and placed on a uniform.

“We’re open to each chance,” Jazz common supervisor Justin Zanik stated on Friday afternoon.

The Jazz have made it a degree to be clear on the place they’re as a company, and to place the proverbial ball in Westbrook’s court docket. They respect what Westbrook has been in a position to accomplish as a participant. So in conferences along with his illustration, together with agent Jeff Schwartz, they needed to provide Westbrook a say and a few management over what occurs subsequent in his course of as a participant.

So, what does this imply? The Jazz let Westbrook and his camp know that enjoying time might be sporadic if he does certainly resolve to play for the franchise. Utah simply traded away Malik Beasley, Mike Conley and Jarred Vanderbilt. They did so partially as a result of they wanted to clear enjoying time to search out out what they’ve in a few of their youthful gamers. On the level guard spot, Westbrook’s dominant place, the Jazz are going to provide heavy minutes to Collin Sexton and Talen Horton-Tucker going ahead.

And what meaning is Westbrook, if he decides to play with the Jazz, may very well accrue some DNP’s alongside the best way for the rest of the season. And that may be a tricky spot for a veteran as proud as Westbrook to be in. What Westbrook and his illustration have appreciated is the truth that the Jazz have been upfront and sincere about the place they’re as a workforce and as a company. Following the commerce deadline, this can be a workforce that’s going to spend money on its youthful gamers. That’s the fact of it.

So, these are Westbrook’s decisions as of Friday afternoon. He can resolve to play with the Jazz, which might imply the least quantity of minutes he’s performed in his NBA profession. The Jazz are proud of protecting him on the roster and Westbrook merely going house. There received’t be any onerous emotions both method, if Westbrook chooses that route. The Jazz would fully perceive and they might help his determination.

The professionals of that call for Westbrook are a number of. Clearly, he would nonetheless receives a commission his full contract. The Jazz would additionally accrue Westbrook’s chicken rights over the summer season, which might then open the signal and commerce route, presumably benefitting each events. However Westbrook, for a way ugly his tenure with the Lakers ended earlier within the week, had a superb season. He’s proven a willingness to come back off the bench. He’s largely confirmed to have sufficient expertise and skill to be an NBA participant after this present contract expires, and he’s proven a willingness to do what his workforce asks of him. So, if he doesn’t play one other recreation this season, common managers at free company time this summer season will keep in mind what he’s performed so far. If he performs for the Jazz, and he isn’t within the rotation each evening, that might have the power to skew issues for him in that method.

Westbrook might alternatively search the buyout that’s been reported to be imminent, and provides some a reimbursement on his contract. After which he could be free to signal with any workforce. Already there are experiences of different groups who’re keen to signal the high-octane guard. That may give Westbrook the runway to signal with a workforce that higher suits his timeline of desirous to play for a championship contender.

The Jazz will not be putting a deadline on a choice from Westbrook, league sources inform The Athletic. That call might come at any time. However that call is his to make. The Jazz will transfer ahead accordingly when Westbrook makes his selection.

A pure deadline of March 1 does exist, so to talk. That’s the NBA’s deadline to be on a roster so as to have the ability to take part within the postseason. However the Jazz are at present on a four-game journey that goes by way of Toronto, New York, Indiana and Memphis. After that’s All-Star weekend. And after that, the Jazz have a couple of video games earlier than March 1. So, that ought to presumably give Westbrook sufficient time to weigh the professionals and cons of no matter he needs to do.

The Jazz have been completely satisfied that the 2 sides have been so amicable at this level, and proud of Westbrook’s professionalism. Now, the 2 sides simply should work by way of your complete course of till the method involves a conclusion, whichever conclusion that’s.

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(Photograph: Mark J. Rebilas / USA In the present day)

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Utah

NHL On Tap: Maple Leafs host Utah, seek 4th straight win without Matthews | NHL.com

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

NHL On Tap: Maple Leafs host Utah, seek 4th straight win without Matthews | NHL.com

Welcome to the NHL On Tap, a daily look at the games on the NHL schedule. There is one game on the schedule for Sunday, which will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.

Game of the day

Utah Hockey Club at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN4, NHLN, Utah16)

Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares have all stepped up for the Maple Leafs (12-6-2) in the absence of captain Auston Matthews and look to continue the trend against Utah (8-9-3) at Scotiabank Arena. Marner has 12 points (four goals, eight assists), Nylander nine points (four goals, five assists) and Tavares eight points (four goals, four assists) in the seven games without Matthews, who is out with an upper-body injury. Toronto has won three in a row and is 6-1-0 without Matthews, who skated prior to practice Saturday and said he could return from an upper-body injury this upcoming week. Marner leads Toronto with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 20 games and has points in six of the seven games Matthews has missed. Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Wall made 31 saves in a 3-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday for his first shutout of the season and second in the NHL. Utah is playing the second game of a back-to-back for the first time in team history and will look to build on a 6-1 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Dylan Guenther had two goals and an assist, and Clayton Keller had three assists, helping Utah end a three-game losing streak. Goalie Jaxson Stauber could make his Utah debut after being recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League on Wednesday; the 25-year-old has not played an NHL game since Feb. 22, 2023, with the Chicago Blackhawks. No. 1 goalie Connor Ingram has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury.

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Utah

Iowa State football: Three stars in win for Cyclones over Utah in Big 12 action

Published

15 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Iowa State football: Three stars in win for Cyclones over Utah in Big 12 action

It takes a complete football team to win a championship. Iowa State is finding that out with each passing week.

Seemingly left for dead in the heated Big 12 Conference race, the Cyclones now find themselves one win away from competing for the league title following a thrilling 31-28 victory over Utah Saturday night.

Iowa State (9-2, 7-2) reached the nine-win mark before a bowl game for the first time in program history, and could end one of the longest droughts in NCAA history by reaching 10 wins. The Cyclones and Vanderbilt are the only remaining Power 5 programs to never reach 10 wins, as Indiana did earlier this year.

After taking a 24-13 lead on Utah midway through the third quarter, the Cyclones needed a rally, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 91 seconds to go. The defense forced a missed field goal to seal the win.

Here are three stars from Iowa State’s win over Utah:

Carson Hansen scored the game-winning touchdown for Iowa State vs. Utah Saturday night. / Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Known for his power running, Carson Hansen showed off his arm on a key third-down trick play that led to his second rushing touchdown. Hansen, a sophomore, took a halfback pass and found Gabe Burkle for a 26-yard completion.

That put the ball at the Utah 3 and Hansen would plow his way into the end zone on the next play for the game-winning points. He finished the night with a team-high 57 yards on 14 carries to go along with the 26-yard pass while also catching two balls for another 28 yards.

At 6-2 and over 220 pounds, Hansen is the thunder to Abu Sama’s lightning. He now has 11 rushing touchdowns on the year to go along with 560 yards after rushing for just 67 last season as a freshman.

Anytime Rocco Becht needed to make a big play in the passing game, he looked in the direction of Jayden Higgins. And Higgins stepped up for his quarterback, who was not quite as sharp as he typically has been.

Higgins finished with nine receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown, surpassing 1,000 yards for the season. The 6-foot-4 senior out of South Miami became just the seventh different Cyclone to reach the number after missing out last year with 983 yards.

With at least two, and maybe more, games to go, Higgins sits sixth on the school’s single-season list for yards with 1,015. Hakeem Butler is first with 1,318. Higgins and teammate Jaylin Noel, who has 976 yards, are set to become the first Cyclone teammates to eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season in school history.

Higgins is also just two yards away from becoming just the 10th Iowa State receiver to reach 2,000 career yards, joining the likes of Allen Lazard, Xavier Hutchinson and Charlie Kolar, along with Noel.

Malik Verdon closes in on Utah’s quarterback Luke Bottari Saturday night in a 31-28 win for Iowa State. / Rob Gray-Imagn Images

It’s been a difficult season in regards to injuries on both sides of the ball for Iowa State. But the defense has really been hurt with Malik Verdon out.

Verdon, a junior, recorded a team-leading 12 tackles including a sack, as the Cyclones held Utah to just 99 yards of total offense through three quarters.

And while the Utes were able to finally put together sustained drives in the fourth, when they needed to make a play, Iowa State did. Verdon went out for a short time after appearing to reinjure his arm that has a cast due to a hairline fracture, but would return to the field later in the fourth.

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How to watch Iowa State football at Utah; TV channel, spread, game odds, prediction

Published

23 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

How to watch Iowa State football at Utah; TV channel, spread, game odds, prediction

The Iowa State football team has two weeks to solidify themselves and possibly land a spot in the Big 12 championship game in December.

Part one of the two-piece series starts Saturday night, as the Cyclones (8-2, 5-2) make a visit to Salt Lake City to play Utah (4-6, 1-6).

Sitting a game behind co-conference leaders BYU and Colorado, Iowa State is in position but on the outside looking in for the time being. They also have red-hot Arizona State to contend with, as the Sun Devils have quickly climbed the standings and sit tied with ISU.

Utah has dropped six straight since starting the season off 4-0 as preseason favorites to win the Big 12. Of those six losses, four have been decided by eight points or less. Last Saturday, though, they suffered a 25-point setback to Colorado.

Along with several tough losses, the Utes have been without star quarterback Cam Rising since the losing skid began. Rising is out for the season following multiple injuries, as Isaac Wilson – the brother of NFL QB Zack Wilson – has replaced him.

Iowa State and Utah have a bit of a history, playing each other five times between 1970-2010. The Cyclones won the first four meetings between the two while the Utes won the most recent, claiming a 68-27 victory. Utah was undefeated and ranked 10th in the country during that encounter.

The oddsmakers have the Cyclones set as a 6.5-point favorite. ESPN’s FPI puts them at just over 63 percent to win the game.

Here are the details on how to watch, stream and follow Iowa State’s game at Utah on Saturday night:

Iowa State at Utah TV Channel, Live Stream, Odds

Who: Iowa State at Utah in a Big 12 football game

When: 6:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, November 23

Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium | Salt Lake City, Utah

Live Stream: Stream Iowa State-Cincinnati live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

TV Channel: FOX

Betting Odds: Iowa State is favored by 6.5 points. Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportbook

Our Prediction: Iowa State 24, Utah 10

Live Updates, Highlights: Follow the game on Iowa State on SI for live updates, in-game analysis and big-play highlights throughout Saturday’s matchup.

* Latest betting odds for Iowa State

* Matt Campbell talks up the Utah defense

* Cyclones right back into contention in wild, wild Big 12

*Three stars in Iowa State’s win over Cincinnati including Stevo Klotz

*Complete game recap of Iowa State’s win over Cincinnati

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