HOUSTON - In a tough break for the Utah Jazz, guard Vince Williams Jr. was sidelined for the rest of the game against the Houston Rockets on Monday night due to a severe knee injury in the first half.
It all unfolded during a fast break early in the second quarter. Williams, in full stride, collided with Rockets forward Tari Eason. The contact sent Williams off balance, and as he tried to recover, his knee twisted awkwardly, sending him tumbling out of bounds near the Jazz bench.
The scene was a difficult one to watch. Jazz staff quickly assisted Williams off the court and into the locker room, leaving fans and teammates concerned.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy, visibly upset, called a timeout right after the incident. He approached the officials, questioning the lack of a foul call on the play that led to an easy score for the Rockets.
Back on the bench, several Jazz players and coaches reviewed the play, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern as they processed the unfortunate turn of events.
The team later confirmed that Williams would not be returning to the game, citing a left knee injury. As the Jazz regroup, the focus will be on Williams' recovery and the impact of his absence moving forward.