Utah Jazz Hit by Injury Bug in Game vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Playing their sixth game in eight nights (in five different cities), the Utah Jazz were hit with a rash of injuries during their home contest with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.  

In the closing moments of the first quarter, Josh Howard left the game and went to the locker room with a strained quad. Midway through the third, Devin Harris was removed after straining his left calf.  Neither player returned to the game and both have been listed as day-to-day on the updated injury reports.

Additionally, Paul Millsap hyper-extended his knee while driving to the basket during the fourth quarter and head coach Tyrone Corbin said that Al Jefferson had issues with cramping, a problem that has affected him already this season.  Both players were able to finish the game despite their injuries.

In this lockout-shortened season, injuries of this type will likely be more prevalent given the condensed nature of the schedule. The season's opening weeks could be especially harsh in this regard due to the abbreviated training camps and preseason.  

Utah has the next two days off, which should give its players time to rest and recover before facing the Memphis Grizzles on Friday. Should Harris be unable to suit up for the game, backups Earl Watson and Jamaal Tinsley have proven to be capable replacements so far this year.  

The situation with the wings is more tenuous given the offensive struggles of C.J. Miles and Raja Bell (Miles is hitting on 32.7 percent of his field goal attempts, while Bell has connected on only 26.1 percent). Both players will likely be ready to play, however.