The Utah Jazz could get a big boost on Sunday with Ricky Rubio now being upgraded to questionable to return but according to ESPN sources, the Jazz are hopeful that he will be able to return.
Jazz PG Ricky Rubio (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable for Game 4.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 5, 2018
That same source that the Jazz will have more of an idea after he receives his treatment on Sunday. He has been out since Game 6 of their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder after suffering a strained left hamstring.
Article Continues BelowThe Jazz have been able to win one game without Rubio in this series, but it has made life a lot tougher, especially on Rookie Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell is a point guard, but he has been playing most of the year off the ball, and is more comfortable when Rubio is the one doing most of the point guard work. After Game 3 Rudy Gobert talked about how much more pressure it puts on Mitchell when Rubio isn't playing.
“Ricky not being in puts alot of pressure on Donovan”, said Gobert via Tony Parks of The Zone. “Mitchell has played the whole year as a guard but not a point guard. I know that Mitchell is blaming himself for this loss, but I know that he is going to respond in game 4.”
If Rubio is able to return for Game 4 that should really open up the offense a lot more, and give more confidence to Donovan Mitchell who might be needing a boost after his Game 3 performance. With Utah trailing the series 2-1 and the series shifting back to Houston after this game, this is a must win for the Jazz.