Oklahoma City, Okla. • The headache is gone. The dizziness is gone, and Derrick Favors has passed concussion protocol.
As a result, Utah’s big man was given a clean bill of health and allowed to return to the lineup Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. His integration into the lineup is good news for the Jazz, even if they were blown out at Chesapeake Arena against a hot Thunder team.
“Obviously, it’s good to be back,” Favors said. “I had to deal with a headache most of the time, and getting used to having stitches.”
Favors missed a pair of games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets because he took an elbow to the side of the head from Celtics forward Jaylen Brown. More than the concussion, it cost Favors six stitches above his left eye.
He’s still getting used to it. In the days following the elbow, Favors has looked liked a boxer who just finished 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. In Wednesday’s pregame interviews, Jazz coach Quin Snyder likened Favors to Rocky. The eye is still swollen, the stitches are still relatively fresh, and it’s protected by a simple bandage.
“I just have to get used to it, and go out there and play like I normally do,” Favors said. “It’s not perfect, but I want to be back and I’m happy to be playing.”
Wednesday night didn’t go well for Favors or the Jazz. He scored seven points in the first half, and had nine points through the third quarter on an assortment of dunks and jumpers. That’s the good thing.
On the other hand, his rim protection wasn’t great - Utah’s defense as a whole wasn’t great. And Favors ended up on the wrong end of Paul George’s highlight, as OKC’s all-star forward rumbled down the lane and dunked over the Favors.
Still, Utah’s injury report lost a name on Wednesday night. As the season progresses past Christmas, it will be imperative for the Jazz to stay healthy, if they want to make a run at the postseason.
Mitchell sits
Utah rookie guard Donovan Mitchell missed the first game of season Wednesday night, sidelined by a toe contusion. The rookie of the year candidate is Utah’s scoring leader at 17.7 points per game. He was limited to 21 minutes in Monday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets.
Without Mitchell, and without Raul Neto, who missed his fifth straight game with a concussion, the Jazz were forced to play Alec Burks and Joe Ingles at backup point guard.
Familiar foes
The Jazz and the Thunder will see each other again on Saturday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Division rivals, it will be the third time this month the two have faced each other.
“We’ll be glad to be done with them after Saturday,” Snyder said.
