Utah Jazz: Sloan cancels team shootaround

MINNEAPOLIS — A gym gave Jerry Sloan and the Jazz the cold shoulder for their 20th anniversary.

The Jazz canceled their morning shootaround today, meaning no early warmups prior to their game tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Reason?

The basketball court that is part of the fitness center attached to the Jazz's downtown Minneapolis hotel wasn't properly heated.

Outside temperatures are in the bone-chilling teens in this snowy city, and the Jazz didn't want to risk injury to players by holding a shootaround in an also-chilly indoor environment, so the session was cancelled.

Tonight at the Target Center here, the 13-9 Jazz face 4-15 Minnesota for the first time this season.

The game will mark the 20th anniversary for Sloan as head coach of the Jazz, who promoted him from assistant when Frank Layden stepped down on Dec. 9, 1988.

It also marks the first game for Kevin McHale in his second stint coaching the Timberwolves.

Minnesota fired coach Randy Wittman on Monday, and McHale — who previously finished out the 2004-05 season, going 19-12 after ex-coach Flip Saunders exited — again has come down from the front office to the bench.

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com