SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Reserve Kyrylo Fesenko will make only his third career start and first of the season Friday night when the Utah Jazz face the Los Angeles Lakers.
A loss to the Lakers (54-20) officially eliminates the Jazz (36-39) from the playoffs and would make them the first team in history to start 15-5 and 27-13 and not qualify for postseason play, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Jazz already have ruled out starters Andrei Kirilenko, Raja Bell and Devin Harris because of assorted leg injures as well as reserve guard Ronnie Price.
Coach Ty Corbin said he decided to start the 7-1 Fesenko because he matches up better against Andrew Bynum. Al Jefferson moves to the power forward spot and Paul Millsap to small forward, with C.J. Miles and Earl Watson starting at guard.
