Utah Jazz notebook: Randy Foye putting threes in at record pace

SALT LAKE CITY — Point guard Ricky Green was considered the fastest of them all by former Utah Jazz broadcaster Hot Rod Hundley.

When it comes to sinking 3-point shots, a similar moniker could be given to Randy Foye.

The starting shooting guard is the fastest of them all (Jazz players, at least) to hit 100 3-pointers in franchise history.

Foye, whom some vocal fans are hoping will be invited to the 3-point-shooting contest later this month, reached that mark in Monday's game and now sits at 102 3-pointers this season.

Only six previous Jazz shooters sank 100 in an entire season, and Foye is well on his way to blast past all-time-organization-leading Mehmet Okur in the top two spots (129 and 114).

C.J. Miles (109), Bryon Russell (108, 106), Jeff Hornacek (104), Kyle Korver (103) and John Stockton (102) also had 100-plus from long range.

Foye (102 of 235) is just 25 3-pointers shy of tying his personal season-high of 127 treys, which he reached in the lockout-shortened season.

The seventh-year veteran humbly acted unimpressed with his century-mark shooting.

"I've still got a long way to go, man. Obviously, I work hard at what I do," Foye said. "But it still really doesn't matter. We're fighting for positioning in the playoffs, so every game counts. I've just got to keep making them and helping our team win."

Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin couldn't hide the surprise when informed about Foye's quick pace.

"Is that right? Wow. Yeah, that's surprising," Corbin said at Thursday's practice. "That's the first I heard it."

The Jazz are also having their best-ever season from deep.

Having drained 285 of 782 from beyond the arc, the Jazz are on pace to surpass the team record 439 treys they sank in 2009-10.

Foye is obviously a big factor in that increased outside onslaught.

"Huge," Corbin said. "It's one of the areas we talked about at the end of last year (that) we need to address our 3-point shooting, and he's given us a threat there."

Foye's shooting percentage (.434) is seventh-best in the NBA, so he's a possible candidate for the All-Star Weekend festivities.

"I really don't know how that stuff works. ... I really don't pay attention to that," said Foye, who so happened to mention that Steph Curry, Ryan Anderson and Klay Thompson have already been invited to shoot in the newly formatted East-West showdown. "My only focus now is to help us finish the season strong."

HAYWARD INJURY: Sixth man Gordon Hayward missed another practice and is doubtful for tonight's game against Portland because of his sprained right shoulder.

Corbin said the swingman is getting better and receiving treatment, but he adheres to the old Jerry Sloan philosophy that players should go through a practice before returning to game action from an injury.

That could mean Hayward, hurt last weekend, might miss Saturday's game at Portland, too.

"We want to make sure we're doing the smart and the right thing by him," Corbin said. "We don't want to bring him back too soon and get him hurt any further."

JAZZ FAITHFUL?: Corbin was asked whether or not the Jazz's crowd of 17,490 at Wednesday's 104-99 was relatively small because of the team's pitiful performance in Monday's 125-80 home loss to Houston.

"Who knows? The weather. Our fans are tremendous here. Whatever it was, we trust them," Corbin said. "We know that our fans love us and we love them. We want to put forth a great performance every night we step on the floor in there. (That's) part of the reason you're so disappointed in the game like we had against Houston."

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