Jazz pays respect to Pekovic's strength

SALT LAKE CITY – Three nights after the Timberwolves pounded Utah 50-18 in points in the paint and led by as many as 36 points in a blowout victory at Target Center, the two teams met again Tuesday in Salt Lake City.

This time, swingman Gordon Hayward returned after missing five games because of a sore left hip flexor, but the Jazz went without starting center Derrick Favors, who didn't play because of the same sort of hip flexor injury, except his was on his right side.

Jazz backup Enes Kanter started at center against the Wolves' Nikola Pekovic, who had his way Saturday with a healthy Utah frontcourt when he went for 27 points and 14 rebounds. Pekovic followed Saturday's game with an 18-point, nine-rebound night on Tuesday.

Missing Favors was not a good development for a Jazz team that has had discussions about whether Pekovic is the NBA's strongest man.

"We kind of joke about it in the locker room," Jazz veteran forward Marvin Williams said. "We can't think of a guy stronger than this guy. He's a wide load down there."

Somebody asked Favors on Tuesday where he ranks Pekovic on the league's strength continuum.

"Oh, he might be the strongest guy in the league," Favors said. "It's hard to push him off the block and me trying to post up against him, he pushes you all the way out to the three-point line. He's probably the strongest guy in the league to me, as far as strength."

Hayward returned Tuesday after he had missed five games since delivering a 37-point, 11-rebound, seven-assist performance in a victory over Oklahoma City.

During that time, Hayward received treatment on that hip, lots and lots of it.

"Getting ice and stim and watching SportsCenter over and over and over," he said, referring to electrical-stimulation treatments. "It's pretty boring."

Hayward was out because he injured his left hip flexor. Favors missed Tuesday's game because his right hip flexor was tight. Somebody asked Jazz ­forward Williams if his hip flexors were OK. "Yeah, thankfully," he said. "But I try to stretch 'em every day."

Add Jazz point guard Trey Burke to the list of NBA stars who the Timberwolves drafted and then quickly traded away on draft night, much to the eternal regret of many fans.

"Honestly, I didn't know what the situation was," Burke said. "I didn't work out with Minnesota or have a meeting with them [at the Chicago predraft camp]. It was kind of awkward to me, but once I got traded, it all made sense."