Community Picks: Utah Jazz 0% vs Washington Wizards 0%

Only Gilbert Areanas could turn a wonderfully cute and poignant moment into something unsavory and, in a few instances, offensive. The former NBA All-Star can’t seem to help himself, even when attempting to pay tribute to a retiring NBA legend. [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball ] Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game will be on April 13 of this year, a home date against a Utah Jazz team that might be fighting to make the playoffs. That contest, obviously, is sold out. Whether the actual game matters represents dead health or a Jazz team’s desperate attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012 isn’t of concern – it’s a legend’s final game. Gilbert, turned off by the asking ticket price, tried to grab tickets by way of a 10-day contract with the Lakers: Continue to Article

February 18, 2016 9:39:am EST

A major snow storm last month forced the Utah Jazz to play three games in four days following the All-Star break. After limping into the All-Star break, the Wizards open a stretch of three games in as many days Thursday night against the visiting Jazz. Washington (23-28) was scheduled to host Utah (26-26) on Jan. 23, but a blizzard forced a postponement that's created a scheduling headache. Continue to Article

February 17, 2016 9:53:pm EST

The Utah Jazz are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season and finish above .500 for the first time since 2012-13. The Jazz are healthier than they've been most of the season and begin the push for the postseason Thursday night in Washington. ''It's going to be tough,'' Hayward said. Continue to Article

February 17, 2016 8:10:pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah Jazz President Randy Rigby said he plans to retire from the position at the end of the season. Continue to Article

February 17, 2016 6:08:pm EST

TORONTO – For the second straight year the NBA used a Team World vs. Team USA format for its Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend. Canada is certainly doing its part to stock the World roster with talent. In fact, Canada's recent growth in basketball is a big reason the NBA was able to switch to a format that highlights the sport's international appeal. In the past, there was always a handful of non-U.S. born players in the game but not enough to fill out an entire roster. Thanks to Canada's ascension, it's much easier to find 10 players that fit the bill. The Rising Stars game itself is still far from a realistic reflection of what these players can do, as Team World lost to the American squad 157-154 on Friday night at the Air Canada Centre, but reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, Dallas Mavericks sophomore Dwight Powell, and Utah Jazz rookie Trey Lyles gave Canada three worthy representatives. It's the fourth consecutive year there's been at least one Canadian invited to participate, but it wasn't too long ago that having even one Canadian in the NBA's All-Star showcase featuring the league's top rookies and sophomore was a rarity. Todd MacCulloch (2000) and Steve Nash (1997) were the only Canadians to get the nod from the game's inception in 1994 until 2013. That's right, before Tristan Thompson and Andrew Nicholson played in the 2013 edition, the last two times a Canadian was picked, Vancouver had an NBA team. "It just shows the rise of Canadian basketball," said Wiggins, who scored 29 points. "Before, no one ever thought there would be Canadians in this game." Wiggins, of course, was expected to be here as the No. 1 overall pick in 2014 and the Rising Stars MVP last year in New York. But for Powell and Lyles to also be there shows that there's a team on the come-up here and they're only going to get better. The Toronto crowd recognizes too showering the three Canadians with loud cheers during player introductions and throughout the game.  O CANADA! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 Native Canadian @TreyMambaLyles gets on the board with a nice dunk! #BBVARisingStars https://t.co/PR2e7msRFu — Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 13, 2016 In the grand scheme of professional basketball, the Rising Stars game barely registers. But if there's anything to take away from it, that it now serves as an annual reminder for the world that Canada's got next is a pretty good place to start. More NBA coverage from Yahoo Canada Sports: - - - - - - - Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports . Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr Continue to Article

February 13, 2016 1:00:am EST