On a day mostly dominated by the revelation that Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is dealing with what could be a series-ending and playoff-finishing knee injury, the Utah Jazz also received some negative news on the injury front ahead of Wednesday’s Game 5 between the clubs with the second-round series tied 2-2.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday afternoon that Utah point guard Mike Conley Jr. will once again be sidelined due to the right hamstring strain that has bothered him for two weeks.
Conley, named an All-Star for the first time of his career this season, hasn’t played since he aggravated the issue during the first-round series-clinching victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on June 2. Ahead of the postseason tournament, a previous right hamstring problem kept the 33-year-old out of the rotation for nine games in late April and May. He also missed time in February because of a similar setback.
Conley averaged 16.2 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 51 regular-season games during the 2020-21 campaign. As ESPN’s Tim MacMahon noted, Joe Ingles has replaced Conley and averaged 16.3 points and 4.0 assists in the series against the Clippers.
Game 6 is set for Friday night in Los Angeles.
