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Minneapolis • Chris Johnson doesn't listen to the noise outside the Utah Jazz locker room. So he's unaware of the pundits and the fans who assert that the Jazz bench wing play is all but obsolete with Alec Burks on the injured list.
For Johnson, his shot at extended playing time — which continued on Wednesday night at the Minnesota Timberwolves — rests on simply playing solid defense, making the open shots and blending in with his teammates.
"It's just about coming in and playing hard," Johnson said. "I can't try and be Alec Burks. I just have to try and be myself, play well and give energy."
With everyone healthy, Johnson is close to the 15th man on the roster. He'll sweat out the next two weeks, since his contract becomes guaranteed on Jan. 10. He's lasted almost a year with the Jazz, but he's had to fight for a spot on the roster the moment the ink was dry on his initial 10-day contract.
But without Burks, and with the front office currently standing pat on signing a replacement wing player, Johnson finds himself in Quin Snyder's rotation. He hit a 3-pointer against the Timberwolves in the first half of Wednesday's matchup. He played five minutes, grabbed a rebound and contributed a few good moments defensively.
This is Johnson's opportunity to make his mark. He knows that, but he's promised to play within himself. He knows if he can do that, he has a chance to make an impact.
"I'm more comfortable with the system now than I was when I first came here," Johnson said. "Being with the coaching staff, staying in town over the summer, it's helped me get familiar with everything. It gives me the confidence to go out and try and help the team win games."
Cold outside and inside in Minnesota
The Jazz played arguably their worst half of basketball on Wednesday, shooting 11 of 41 from the field in the first two quarters. They shot 4-19 from 3-point range and had 14 turnovers. But Minnesota only shot 35 percent from the field itself, so the Jazz went into intermission only trailing by seven points.
Former teammates
Wednesday marked the first time this season Karl-Anthony Towns and Trey Lyles met as opponents. The two former Kentucky Wildcats led UK to the Final Four last season. It proved to be a great first half for Lyles, who scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds. He hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to pull the Jazz within 38-31.
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