Utah Jazz: Favors' status vs. Celts? Q..

NBA • Injured Jazz center participates in shootaround, but it's unclear if he will play

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Jazz center Derrick Favors participated in Monday morning's shootaroud, but his availability against Boston tonight will be a game-time decision.

Favors has missed three straight games — and seven of the last 13 — with a sprained hip. He is the Jazz's best interior defender. He averages team-high nine rebounds and 1.37 blocked shots.

In nine games without Favors this season, the Jazz are winless.

Boston will also be shorthanded for its only visit to Utah this season.

Center Jared Sullinger is sidelined with a concussion and point guard Avery Bradley won't play because of an ankle injury. They combined for 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Celtics' 97-87 win over the Jazz on Nov. 8.

The win was the first for rookie head coach Brad Stevens, whose last appearance at EnergySolutions Arena was with Butler in the 2010 NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs beat No. 1 seed Syracuse and No. 2 seed Kansas State en route to a berth in the Final Four.

Gordon Hayward was the star of that team at Butler. The Jazz eventually took him with the No. 9 pick in the 2010 NBA draft.

Hayward averages 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season, but he comes off a five-point effort in Saturday night's 121-104 loss to Minnesota.

In 24 minutes, Hayward missed eight of his 10 shots. He did not have a rebound or an assist.

Asked how Hayward responded to poor performances when he was in college, Stevens said, "He gets a chip on his shoulder and plays really well. I hope it's not tonight."

Utah Jazz: Favors' status vs. Celts? Questionable