Jaxson Hayes was cleared on the official injury report Wednesday night after being listed as day-to-day. The Jazz center is available for Wednesday's home game against the Spurs, a game Utah plays without Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.
What happened
Jaxson Hayes was listed as cleared on the official injury report at 8:39 PM ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28. His previous status was day-to-day. He first went on the report on Monday, Oct. 26, as day-to-day with an undisclosed issue. The listing was then updated the same day to a right shoulder injury, and his status stayed day-to-day. The report did not include a comment with the update. No other detail about the injury has been announced.
What it means for the Jazz
Utah hosts San Antonio at 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday. The Jazz are 1-3, sit 13th in the West and have lost two straight. Hayes has played three games, averaging 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23.8 minutes. Utah is 1-2 with him and 0-1 without him. In the game he missed, Mo Bamba played 28.6 minutes and scored 14.0 points in the frontcourt. Keyonte George led the team at 31.8 minutes and 22.8 points. Hayes returns to a thin frontcourt. Lauri Markkanen (right wrist), Jaren Jackson Jr. (right knee) and Jusuf Nurkic (right foot) are all out.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Hayes stays cleared after his first game back. No return timeline was needed once he was cleared, and none was announced. The bigger question is the rest of the frontcourt. Markkanen, Jackson and Nurkic are out, and so is Trey Alexander (left knee). Until they return, Hayes and Bamba carry most of the work at center for a team trying to stop a two-game slide.
Is Jaxson Hayes playing vs the Spurs on Wednesday, Oct. 28?
Yes, he is available. Hayes was listed as cleared on the official injury report at 8:39 PM ET, before the 9:00 PM ET tip against San Antonio.
When will Jaxson Hayes be back?
He is back now. Hayes was cleared on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after two days listed as day-to-day with a right shoulder injury.