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SALT LAKE CITY — Keyonte George avoided a major injury to his left foot and ankle, an MRI revealed Thursday.
Early in Utah's 117-113 win over the New York Knicks, George appeared to tweak his foot or ankle on a non-contact play. He tried to run off the pain, but soon the Utah Jazz rookie point guard hobbled off the court and straight to the locker room.
He didn't return to the game and the Jazz scheduled an MRI on the injured foot for Thursday. That MRI revealed George had "avoided significant damage" to the left foot area, according to the Jazz. The team has listed the injury as foot soreness.
George will miss Utah's current two-game road trip (Thursday in Portland and Saturday in Sacramento) and will be reevaluated when the team returns home. The Jazz play at home on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets.
After what looked to be a worrisome non-contact injury (George even slapped something in frustration on his way through the tunnel), that was welcomed news for a Jazz team that has been hit with multiple injuries already this season.
"Those moments are awful," Will Hardy said of seeing George quickly limp off the court. "Because there's a part of you that wants to go down the tunnel with you and make sure he's OK."
An initial X-ray taken during the game came back negative, and Collin Sexton said George was in good spirits in the locker room.
But, as Sexton said, until the MRI results come back there's worry.
"It's definitely tough just because your mind all night is like 'OK, what is it?' but he got some good results earlier so he'll definitely be fine and he'll be in good spirits, especially once they check him out."
That turned out to be prophetic.
George has averaged 10.9 points and 5.0 assists during his rookie year. Thursday night will be his first missed game this season.
