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Sacramento, Calif. • Alec Burks is back.
After a two-game absence — and a handful of physicians' opinions on his left shoulder — the Jazz shooting guard will be in the starting lineup tonight as Utah tries to snap an eight-game losing streak against the Sacramento Kings.
"Get him back in there. He's ready to go," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.
Burks got four different opinions on his shoulder last week before being cleared to return to playing and Snyder said there is no concern that the guard's long-term health could be impacted by playing now.
"There's no way he'd be on the floor if that were part of it," he said. "I think that's one of the reasons that we've taken great care, gone to great lengths to make sure everything's in a good place and he's ready to go."
In 18 games this year, Burks has averaged 13.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 33.7 minutes.
"His physicality and his play is something that we've clearly missed," Snyder said. "It's good to have him back."
— Aaron Falk