They want to be cautious and make sure it’s 100 percent healthy and strong, so I can do a lot of things without tape. – Rodney Hood
SALT LAKE CITY — Rodney Hood went down for the third time this year with an injured foot last Sunday at San Antonio and will be out until at least the All-Star break in mid-February.
Before Saturday night’s game, Hood talked about his injury and what his plans are for the immediate future.
When Hood hit the floor early in the fourth quarter Sunday, his injury appeared to be more serious than it turned out to be as X-rays taken after the game were negative. On Saturday, Hood was already out of a boot, but said he’s going to take more time to make sure the foot is 100 percent before playing again.
“It’s getting better day by day,’’ Hood said. “They want to be cautious and make sure it’s 100 percent healthy and strong, so I can do a lot of things without tape. I’m just taking it day by day.’’
Hood first went down with an injury to his right foot in the sixth game of the year against Dallas. He sat out 10 games and returned in late November. He played the next 16 games, but after injuring his left foot, missed seven more games in early january. he came back for just two games before going down for the third time on sunday with more inflammation of his left foot.
Hood said he didn’t feel like he came back too early from his latest injury and said, “I was feeling good up until that play.’’ He called it “devastating” when he went down in pain on the Spurs court. But he says he’ll be even more cautious this time.
“I just have to be patient,’’ he said. “My teammates and the coaches have been real patient and keeping me in good spirits. It’s tough sitting out, but at the same time I have to be thinking about the future.’’
ANOTHER LINEUP: The Jazz used their 10th different starting lineup of the season against Brooklyn, with Derrick Favors returning to the lineup after sitting out Thursday for "personal reasons" and Dante Exum starting for the second-straight game and third of the season.
The Jazz were the most stable team in the NBA for the first 18 games of the season when their opening lineup of Favors, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, Trey Burke and Alec Burks never changed.
Then Burks hurt his shoulder and his replacement Hood hurt his foot again, forcing the Jazz to use Joe Ingles and others as starters.
“We’ve had a lot of different lineups forced on us because of injuries,’’ said Utah coach Quin Snyder. “This probably won’t be the same starting lineup the rest of the year.''
HOW ABOUT KLAY: Everyone was still talking about Klay Thompson’s amazing performance the night before when the Golden State player scored an incredible 37 points in the third quarter alone on his way to a 52-point night in a 126-101 Warriors’ victory over Sacramento.
To put it in perspective, the Jazz have only scored at least 37 points in a quarter once this year — in a loss to Indiana earlier this month when they scored 39 points in the fourth quarter.
Thompson made all 11 of his shots in the quarter, including nine 3-pointers.
“Man, that was really impressive,’’ said Hayward, who once had 37 in a game for the Jazz. “That’s something that nobody’s going to see for a long time — really impressive. It’s unbelievable, it’s almost something you don’t think is possible.’’
“It was a spectacular performance. You can’t frame it another way,’’ said Snyder. “With good teams when someone has a hot hand, the ball finds them. You’d be surprised how many times players just figure out a way to look for them and find them, especially on teams like that, that have a great feel.’’
Exum called it “amazing” and reminded people that the Jazz play the Warriors on Friday. “We’re going to make sure we get a hand up and do everything we can to keep that from happening.’’
REMEMBERING WALLY: Late in the third quarter, the Jazz had a tribute on the big screen for longtime usher Wally Price, who died earlier in the week at the age of 99.
Price was well-known by players and coaches from the Jazz and opposing teams since he was a fixture at the security entrance on the south side of the arena.
The Jazz also had all of their ushers wear boutonnieres on their jackets and left Price's usual chair by the security entrance empty.
LIKE POPOVICH: He’s not Gregg Popovich in his success on the floor, but Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins can rival the San Antonio coach in his succinct answers to the media.
In a pregame interview, Hollins gave the following insightful answers.
When asked about the matchup problems Hayward brings his team, he said, “We’ll find out tonight.’’
When asked about his relationship with former Jazzman Deron Williams as a coach to a player, he said, “It’s good.’’
JAZZ NOTES: Williams was on hand for the game, but didn’t play for the ninth-straight game because of a rib injury. ... The Jazz continue their four-game homestand with a game against Boston Monday night. Then the Jazz must face two of the NBA’s best, the LA. Clippers Wednesday and the Golden State Warriors Friday night. ... The Jazz play at Brooklyn on March 8 to kick off a four-game road trip.