Utah Jazz rookie forward Ace Bailey won’t play Saturday on the road against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left hip flexor strain, the team announced.
Bailey sustained the injury in the first half on Friday during a 131-129 victory at home against the Detroit Pistons. He would eventually be ruled out of returning to the game, finishing with two rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot in 11 minutes, 14 seconds.
Jazz coach Will Hardy said in his postgame press conference that he didn’t know the severity of the injury. The Jazz listed the fifth pick in the draft as unavailable to play against the Spurs on their initial injury report, released on Saturday afternoon.
Bailey is averaging 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 35.7% from 3-point range in 30 appearances with the Jazz. He is ninth in rookie scoring and is one of eight first-year players with at least three 20-point performances.
The 19-year-old has scored in double figures 16 times, including a season-high-tying 21 points, five rebounds and three assists on Nov. 13 in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He had appeared in every game for the Jazz before his setback on Friday.
Bailey joined a few other players on the injury report, with Walker Kessler (shoulder), Kevin Love (rest) and Georges Niang (foot) also sidelined on Saturday. Hardy is expected to provide the next update on Bailey during his pregame press conference in San Antonio.