The Utah Jazz’s first preseason road trip had its ups and downs for Keyonte George.
It began on Wednesday when the team arrived in Dallas. George took the opportunity to visit his hometown of Lewisville, where he spoke to the basketball players at his former high school and gifted them some new gear. This visit clearly meant a lot to the second-year guard.
However, things took a turn on Thursday night during the game against the Mavericks. George was having a strong performance, sinking 4 of 5 from beyond the arc and scoring 14 points in just 17 minutes.
Unfortunately, early in the third quarter, he slipped while attempting a crossover and twisted his knee. He spent a few minutes on the floor before teammates helped him off, unable to put weight on his left leg. The Jazz later announced he had a mild left knee sprain and would not return to the game.
The positive takeaway was the Jazz’s use of the word “mild,” indicating they do not anticipate a long-term injury for George.
While any injury is concerning, if George has to miss a few preseason games, it could provide extra playing time for rookie Isaiah Collier and second-year player Brice Sensabaugh, both of whom had solid performances in Dallas. Although Collier struggled with his shooting, he impressed with his passing, finishing with seven assists, including four to Lauri Markkanen.
“He’s shown us in camp and during these preseason games that his decision-making likely exceeds his age, especially given the speed he plays at,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy after the team’s 107-102 victory.
The Jazz will remain in Texas for a few more days, facing Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday before returning home to play the Sacramento Kings next Tuesday.
