\n<\/p>\n
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front right, pulls down a rebound as Utah Jazz center Udoka Azubuike, front left, and forward Royce O’Neale defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Former KU All-American Udoka Azubuike made the first start of his NBA career on Wednesday night, helping lead Utah past Denver in the Mile High City. <\/p>\n
Starting in place of the injured Rudy Gobert, who was out with shoulder inflammation, Azubuike played 16 of 48 minutes in his first career start. Backup big man Hassan Whiteside (concussion) was also out for the Jazz on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
Azubuike\u2019s first start came in just his fifth game of the season and just the 20th NBA game of his pro career.<\/p>\n
He missed all of December and the first two games of January because of an ankle injury suffered in a G League game and has been plagued by a series of injuries since joining the Jazz as a late-first-round pick in the 2020 draft. <\/p>\n
Azubuike was not even cleared to play until Wednesday and he told The Salt Lake Tribune that news of his starting nod was \u201ca last-minute thing.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was right before the game started,\u201d he told the paper. \u201cThat\u2019s when one of the coaches brought me along and was like, \u2018Yeah, you\u2019re starting.\u2019 At first, I thought it was a joke. I thought he was joking with me. I was like, \u2018What do you mean?\u2019 So it was just last-minute, showing me coverages, how to guard The Joker (reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic).\u201d <\/p>\n
While defense was his primary focus, Azubuike made 2 of 3 shots from the floor for 5 points while grabbing 1 rebound, 1 steal, a block and a turnover to go along with three fouls. <\/p>\n
His final plus\/minus number for the night was a team-worst -8 (he was one of just two Jazz players in negative numbers), but Utah (28-10) picked up a 115-109 victory over the Nuggets (18-18) and Azubuike\u2019s teammates believed he was a key part of it. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was really focused and ready. He gave us great minutes,\u201d Utah forward Bojan Bogdanovic said of Azubuike, per The Associated Press, after scoring 36 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in 40 minutes. <\/p>\n
Utah coach Quin Snyder agreed, telling The Tribune: \u201cFor him to come in, his first NBA start, to play against arguably the best player in the world right now \u2014 I thought the minutes that he gave us were just really important minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jokic finished with 26 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists, giving him his 64th career triple-double. <\/p>\n
Azubuike called his first start and the chance to square off with Jokic \u201ca crazy experience.\u201d <\/p>\n
During the 2020-21 season, Azubuike played in 15 games, averaging 1.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in just 3.8 minutes per game. <\/p>\n
Through five games this season, he\u2019s averaging 1.4 points, 1 rebound and 0.2 blocks in 4.6 minutes per game. <\/p>\n
Injuries and big man depth on the roster ahead of him have kept Azubuike from making much of an impact during his first two professional seasons. But the Jazz remain excited about his long-term potential and all parties involved are hoping for good health for the former KU big man from this point forward. <\/p>\n
The Jazz, who currently have the second best record in the Western Conference, will be on the road again Friday night in Toronto, where they will look for their 11th consecutive road victory. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>\n