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Kyle Weaver and his Austin Toro teammates lost an NBA Development League game Tuesday night at Reno.
The 102-98 defeat ended Austin's effort to qualify for the D-League playoffs.
"We'd lost a tough one and I was a little upset," Weaver said.
Then, the Jazz sent word they wanted him to sign a 10-day contract.
Weaver should have rejoiced, since an NBA call-up is every D-League player's dream. Instead, he couldn't shake Austin's loss — not immediately.
"I was a little down," he said. "I didn't know how to feel."
By Thursday, however, the sting of defeat was gone and Weaver was smiling about his promotion to the NBA.
"I'm happy, excited," he said prior to his first practice with the injury-plagued Jazz.
"It's a good situation. Great feeling to be here. I know a lot of guys are banged up right now and they are struggling a little bit. … Hopefully I can bring some versatility to the team. That's one of my assets."
Weaver is a 6-foot-6 combination guard who averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the D-League.
He is the second Austin player signed by the Jazz.
In February, Marcus Cousin spent 10 days with Utah.
"I was actually around him when he got his call," Weaver said. "We were all out eating. It's pretty strange. I don't know what it is about Austin and Utah, but it's pretty cool."
According to coach Tyrone Corbin, the Jazz have liked Weaver since he worked out for them prior to the 2008 NBA draft.
"I loved his attitude," Corbin said. "He's a hard-worker — a good defensive player. Hopefully, we can get him up to speed [because] he may have to play for us right off the bat."
Hayward to start again?
With Andrei Kirilenko sidelined and Devin Harris and Raja Bell questionable against the Lakers, Corbin was asked if Gordon Hayward might make his 13th start Friday against the Lakers.
"It's a possibility," Corbin said. "But if he starts we're really thin at his position coming off the bench."
Hayward played 37 minutes in Monday's 100-95 overtime loss to Washington.
In the final 4.4 seconds of regulation, Utah had a chance to win. But Jeremy Evans' inbounds pass to Hayward was low and got away.
By the time Hayward retrieved the ball, his only option was an off-balance 20-footer.
"It's unfortunate we didn't get as good a look as we wanted to," Hayward said. "I was trying to curl and Jeremy didn't realize that and he passed it behind me a little bit."
Asked what he thought when Corbin made the rookie a primary option on the final play, Hayward said, "Make the shot."
Losing season?
The Jazz must win five of their final seven games to avoid their second losing season since 1982-83.
Utah is 36-39 with two games left against the Lakers and one remaining against Sacramento, Portland, San Antonio, New Orleans and Denver.
"We're going through adversity — we're losing games," Corbin said. "[But] the attitude is still … to put forth an effort and give [ourselves] a chance to win."