Simone Fontecchio Hits Clutch Four-Point Play For Jazz – KSL Sports
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz got a big four-point play from rookie Simone Fontecchio in the fourth quarter of their game against the Phoenix Suns.
With the Jazz lead by just three with nine minutes left to play Fontecchio hit a three-pointer in front of his team’s bench while Kelly Olynyk got fouled setting a screen for the rookie.
Olynyk hit the free throw to extend the Jazz lead to seven.
cottura perfetta 🍝#TakeNote https://t.co/ll1T8JGqpD pic.twitter.com/ZVdhKhBY0m
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 19, 2022
Fontecchio Getting Minutes For Jazz After Gay Injury
Fontecchio has had his number called in consecutive games after veteran forward Rudy Gay was sidelined with a sprained finger on his left hand.
The Italian forward replaced Gay in the lineup on Tuesday and scored nine points on 3-6 shooting while grabbing four rebounds. Fontecchio is shooting 37 percent from the three-point line so far this season showing that his best skill in Europe is translating to the NBA.
The forward scored five points, grabbed one rebound, and blocked one shot against the Suns.
The Italian wing stands 6-foot-7 and averaged 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 45 percent from the floor and 41 percent from the three-point line last season with Baskonia in Spain.
Fontecchio has also played for Alba Berlin in Germany and has been a regular member of the Italian National Team.
Rudy Gay Injury
Gay will miss at least the next two weeks with a finger injury the Utah Jazz announced on Thursday.
The veteran forward missed Tuesday’s loss to the New York Knicks with what was described as a hand sprain, but the team elaborated on the injury after conducting an MRI.
“Gay was examined Wednesday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing,” the team announced in a release. “The MRI revealed a third finger MCP joint sprain in his left hand. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.”
The forward has been a regular off the Jazz bench this season averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest.