When Utah Jazz expanded his franchise record for losses for a season to 62 at Indiana on Friday, the most interesting part happened outside the court.
Second year player Taylor Hendrick’s spent time with the broadcasting team of jazz (16-62) under the TeleCast and talked about his progress since led a seasonal leg injury in October three matches into the season.
Hendricks is one of many of Utah’s expected regular guests who will not be available for Sunday’s road game against Atlanta Hawks, but he provided a positive update of his rehabilitation process in the rare interview. The best part is that Hendricks is expected to resume basketball activities in May after undergoing surgery in November for a large leg injury that resulted in a cracking right fibula and dislocated ankle.
“In May, I will be 100 percent,” Hendricks said during the loss of jazz 140-112 to Pacers. “But how I feel, I will be ready before then.”
Hendricks, a 6-foot-9 forward who was prepared ninth a total of 2023, had a promising rookie season. More was expected of him this season before the non-contact injury occurred against Dallas Mavericks in the third match of the 2024-25 season.
Hendricks was last listed at 215 pounds, but he has met the Weight Room and bulged up to 243 in recent months. He will trim some from that weight but will return with a much stronger physique than before.
“The toughest part is just not being able to play, just come to the games and not be able to check in and help my guys,” Hendricks said. “I feel that what I do can really help us and that is really what we miss a little.”
On Friday, the jazz could really have used him when they saw a first half lead on 13 Devolve to a 28-point loss. Utah was outscored 83-53 during the second half and allowed Pacers to shoot 57.3 percent for the game.
Utah has now lost eight in a row for the third time this season and taken 18 defeat in the last 19 matches.
HAWKS (36-41) comes into this by a rough setback to New York Knicks, 121-105, on Saturday. It was Atlanta’s third defeat in a row and its fifth loss in six excursions. The hawks have dressed a play-in-quay, with sowing that will still be decided.
Trae Young had 16 points on 5-AV-15 shooting to lead the hawks, which lost despite holding New York to 13 points during the fourth quarter. Knicks shot 53.6 percent from the field, including a 15-for-29 performance in addition to the arch.
“At this time of year, it’s not a” flush-it game “,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “You take from it what you need to take from it, go forward and get better. It must be the urgent at this time.”
Atlanta had a wild victory over Utah in his last matchup. Trae Young met a summary shot behind the Halfcourt line to lift the hawks into an exciting victory 124-121 in Salt Lake City in January.
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