Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report

Jan. 4, 2018

THE FLATS – Jarrett Jack opens 2018 with back-to-back 10-point games … Derrick Favors helps lead Utah past Cleveland with a 19-point outing … Marcus Georges-Hunt scores a season-high five points against the Lakers on opening day … Thaddeus Young and Iman Shumpert continue to work back to 100 percent from injuries … All of that and more can be found in this week’s Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report.

Despite the Utah Jazz losing four of their last five games, Derrick Favors has started the new year with a 19-point, six-rebound effort against Cleveland in the 104-101 win. He also recorded three steals to anchor the defensive effort. Favors then tallied a near-double-double when he turned in 11 points and nine rebounds in the 10-point loss to New Orleans on Jan. 3. After the short two-game homestand, the Jazz return to the road on Friday, Jan. 5 against Denver.

Marcus Georges-Hunt turned a season-high five points in seven minutes for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their 114-96 victory over the Lakers on New Year’s Day. His minutes have continued to be in the range of two to seven minutes as the Wolves look to edge toward the top of the Western Conference. Minnesota has a tough nationally televised matchup on Friday, Jan. 5 as it takes on the Celtics in Boston at 7 p.m.

As the New York Knicks continue to search for some kind of consistency, Jarrett Jack opened up 2018 with back-to-back 10-point games. Before the new year, however, Jack’s calm demeanor paid dividends as the Knicks downed the Pelicans, 105-103, thanks to two go-ahead free throws late in the game. On Jan. 2 against San Antonio, Jack also dished five assists and grabbed four rebounds before recording four assists against Washington on Jan. 3. Jack and the Knicks next head to Miami on Friday, Jan. 5 with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m.

continues to recover from a knee injury ultimately required arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 1. The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that he is expected to Miss six to eight weeks. Shumpert had missed five of the previous six games before the decision was made.

Currently in the midst of a six-game losing streak, Thaddeus Young and the Indiana Pacers have yet to be able to rediscover what gave them a strong start to the season. Young’s production is down as he’s scored eight, eight and four points in the last week with his rebounding numbers below average as well as he works his way back to 100 percent from nagging knee and wrist injuries. Despite the injuries, Young is still being considered the “key to the future” of the Pacers organization.