SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Derek Fisher arrived during halftime of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals Wednesday night – hoping it wasn’t already too late for the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz were down 55-39 and facing elimination as they came into the game trailing the San Antonio Spurs 3-1.
Fisher was returning from New York, where his infant daughter underwent a procedure for a rare eye condition. He was expected to arrive before tip-off, but wasn’t on the court or the bench in time. Gordan Giricek started in his place, with Dee Brown prepared to come off the bench.
Jazz point guard Deron Williams started despite a sprained right foot, but had only seven points in the first half.
Fisher’s infant daughter, Tatum, is receiving treatment for her left eye. Fisher left the team in the second round of the playoffs for an operation in New York, then returned to the team during the third quarter of Game 2 of a second-round series against Golden State. His dramatic arrival, and his five points in overtime, helped the Jazz win that game.
The club announced after Game 4 in Salt Lake City on Monday night that Fisher was leaving the team to be with Tatum during further treatment. Team spokeswoman Cindy Edman said the Fishers had a doctor’s appointment Tuesday and a procedure Wednesday morning.
“I wrote him a text last night and he sounded like things were doing well,” forward Carlos Boozer said at shootaround Wednesday morning. “He said he’d be back today. So hopefully everything will be all right and we’ll see him tonight.”
Williams hurt his foot in the fourth quarter of Game 4. He received treatment instead of practicing Tuesday, then wore a large walking boot at the shootaround Wednesday morning. The team initially reported the injury as a sprained ankle, but corrected the diagnosis Wednesday.
Williams was a game-time decision Monday night, too, but played 38 minutes and scored a team-best 27 points. He’s averaging a team-best 29.5 points and 9.3 assists this series.
Add A Comment