SALT LAKE CITY — Give Paul Millsap credit, he knows when to complain and when to keep things quiet.
He did the latter as his girlfriend, LaToria Scott, gave birth to the couple’s third child — a little girl — on Thursday.
Millsap, a Jazz starter, sprained his left ankle during Monday’s loss to the Celtics. He also missed games against Atlanta as well as Friday’s blowout victory over Charlotte.
Whatever pain he was feeling in his sore ankle, the 28-year-old kept it to himself during LaToria’s labor.
“I don’t think no one cares,” he said, referring to his sprained ankle. “Nobody cares, especially her. She doesn’t care, the doctor doesn’t care.”
Millsap joked it would have been funny — or a terrible case of bad timing — if he’d told LaToria’s doctor, “I’m in pain, I’m in pain.”
No doubt, it would have been a terrible moment to ask for pain-killers.
Millsap and Scott decided to name their baby girl Paular Millsap.
Millsap wasn’t the only Jazzman to have a child on Thursday. Teammate Randy Foye and his wife, Christine, became parents for the third time, welcoming baby girl Pilar to the family.
Four babies have been born to Jazz players this season. Rookie Kevin Murphy, veteran Mo Williams, Millsap and Foye all became dads since the start of the season.
GAME 59
Jazz 98, Bobcats 68
• BEST PLAY: Former All-Star dunk champ Jeremy Evans shows off his explosiveness early in the second quarter when he takes a pass from Jamaal Tinsley, dribbles once, hangs in the air and throws down a dunk to give the Jazz a 27-11 lead. • BEST LINE: Enes Kanter scored 23 points and had 22 rebounds in 44 minutes of work. Those stats equal career-highs in points, rebounds and minutes played.
• KEY STAT: The Jazz broke out to a 21-9 lead in the first quarter, setting the tone early and giving the Bobcats no real reason to put up much of a fight.
• SIDELINE MOMENT: Friday night was the official birthday of Jazz mascot “Bear.” Mascots from Houston, Detroit, Sacramento, Dallas and Oklahoma City helped him celebrate.
• MILESTONE: Randy Foye’s 3-pointer at the 5:26 mark of the second quarter gave him 130 made 3s for the season, setting a new franchise record previously held by Mehmet Okur.
• INJURY REPORT: Jazz went without Millsap and Al Jefferson, each out with a left ankle sprain. DeMarre Carroll (left knee) was listed as day-to-day, but played with the use of a knee brace.
• ETC.: The Jazz did not trade, release or buyout the contract of guard Raja Bell, who remains on their roster. Friday was the deadline to get a deal done. The Salt Lake Tribune reported Bell and his agent, Herb Rudoy, turned down the team’s offer of a minimum buyout and will collect $3.48 million this season. He has not been with the team since butting heads with coach Tyrone Corbin last season. … Friday’s starting lineup was the Jazz’s 11th of the season. … Before Friday, Jefferson and Millsap had sat out at the same time. … Charlotte’s 24 points in the first half was the fewest scored by a Jazz opponent this season. … Kanter had 20-plus points and 20-plus assists, making him the first Jazzman to go 20-20 since Carlos Boozer did it on Jan. 25, 2010.
• UP NEXT: The Jazz hit the road for a week, making stops in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago and New York. Their next home game is March 11 vs. Detroit.
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