Utah’s Withey faces domestic violence probe
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — Police are investigating an allegation of domestic violence against Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey.
Manhattan Beach police spokesman Sgt. Tim Zins said Thursday that a police report had been filed accusing Withey of domestic violence and detectives are looking into it.
The Jazz said in a statement that the team is aware of the allegations against Withey but would not comment until they had a better understanding of the situation.
“It's a situation that we're aware of and they're researching further to find out what all the facts are,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said after practice Thursday. “Other than that, it's not appropriate for me to comment on.”
Police say the Los Angeles County district attorney's office will have to determine whether or not Withey will be charged with a crime.
A district attorney's spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.
Withey played in 51 games this season as a reserve center behind Rudy Gobert. Withey averaged 2.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 8.5 minutes.
Withey's role has grown since the playoffs began after Gobert was lost to a knee injury in Game 1 of Utah's firstround series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Power forward Derrick Favors has moved to center with Gobert out and Withey will be the lone active true center on the roster when the Jazz host the Clippers for Game 3 on Friday.
The fourth-year veteran was a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year at Kansas.
“Jeff, he's focused,” Favors said. “He's going through some personal business right now. Overall, he's a good teammate. We're here to support him. He's over there right now getting focused, working on his game. I think he'll be ready and good to go tomorrow.”
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will not play in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Clippers after hyperextending his left knee and suffering a bone contusion in the series opener.
The 7-foot-1 Frenchman went down 17 seconds into Game 1 when he knocked knees with Luc Mbah a Moute on the first possession of the game, which the Jazz won 97-95. The series is tied 1-1.
Gobert is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate after he led the league in blocks and defensive win shares. He also ranked third in defensive rating.
Gobert became the first player in Jazz history to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocks in a single season.
Derrick Favors slides over from power forward to center with Gobert out. The Jazz were outscored 60-38 in the paint in Game 2.