Jazz's Lauri Markkanen, John Collins both out against Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Forward Lauri Markkanen and forward/center John Collins did not play for the Utah Jazz against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Markkanen (personal reasons) has missed four games this season. He left late in the fourth quarter of Utah’s 128-115 loss to San Antonio on Tuesday night and did not return with a left knee contusion following a knee-to-knee collision with Victor Wembanyama.

Markkanen is averaging 19.5 points and 6.6 rebounds through 14 games.

Collins, who also suffered a left knee contusion against the Spurs, was sidelined for the first time after appearing in Utah’s first 17 games, where he averaged 17.9 points and 8.8 rebounds. He bumped knees with Markkanen on Tuesday night a few seconds before Markkanen had his collision with Wembanyama.

The Jazz called up Oscar Tshiebwe and Micah Potter from their G-League affiliate – the Salt Lake City Stars – in the absences of Markkanen and Collins. Utah already had Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Filipowski, and Taylor Hendricks sidelined with injuries.

“These are the nights where you just have to lean into the adversity and say, ‘Okay, here’s a situation we didn’t plan for, and we need to try to emphasize everyone’s strengths even more,’” Jazz coach Will Hardy said.

Hardy said he may rely on some never-before-seen rotations against the Nuggets to compensate for the absences of Markkanen and Collins.

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Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) grabs a rebound as center Walker Kessler (24) assists and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and guard Chris Paul (3) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) reacts to an injury during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off Thursday morning in New York City with a steady rain that added ponchos and umbrellas to the lineup of balloons, floats and star-studded performances.

The annual holiday tradition features new Spider-Man and Minnie Mouse balloons, zoo and pasta-themed floats, performances from Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, and more.

The lineup is a far cry from the parade’s initial incarnation a century ago, which featured floats showing scenes from Mother Goose, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Miss Muffet and the Spider, and other fairy tales.

Some things remain the same, though. As in 1924, there are plenty of marching bands and lots of clowns, followed by the grand finale of Santa Claus riding through Manhattan and ushering in the holiday season.

This year's parade features 17 giant, helium-filled character balloons, 22 floats, 15 novelty and heritage inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups, award-winning singers and actors, and the WNBA champion New York Liberty.

One new float spotlights the Rao’s food brand, featuring a knight and a dragon in battle made with actual pasta elements. Another celebrates the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with representations of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.

“The work that we do, the opportunity to impact millions of people and bring a bit of joy for a couple of hours on Thanksgiving morning, is what motivates us every day,” said Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer.

The parade began at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away around noon at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.

The rain isn't stopping anything — the parade has only been canceled three times, from 1942 to 1944 during World War II — but organizers are monitoring wind speeds throughout the festivities to make sure it’s safe for the big balloons to fly.

Temperatures are in the upper 40s degrees F, with rain throughout the morning and winds around 10 mph (16 kph), well within the acceptable range for letting Snoopy, Bluey and their friends soar. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying the full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph).

The parade airs on NBC with hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and streams on the network's Peacock service. Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza will host a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.

People stand in the rain along Sixth Avenue ahead of the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Pedestrians cross Sixth Avenue ahead of the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)