Denver Jones injury update: Bruce Pearl offers latest on guard ahead of Auburn vs. Alabama

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl told ESPN “everyone is available” for the Tigers’ showdown against No. 7 Alabama on Saturday, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Auburn guard Denver Jones missed the Tigers’ 83-72 loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday due to a right ankle injury.

Thamel reported Jones practiced with Auburn on Friday. Jones is averaging 10.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season while shooting 44.1% from the field and 43.1% from beyond the arc.

Jones injured his ankle in Auburn’s 94-78 win over Kentucky on March 1. Before leaving the game, Jones tallied four points and two rebounds in eight minutes.

Jones’ absence was evident against the Aggies. The Tigers didn’t look like themselves as they gave up 24 offensive rebounds to Texas A&M, while committing 13 turnovers. After the game, Bruce Pearl revealed how close Jones was to playing.

“We really missed his defense and his leadership, and he couldn’t go,” Pearl said. “We’re not saving him. If he could’ve played, he was gonna play. It was a game-time decision and I was hoping he could play through the pain because he doesn’t have a bone bruise and he doesn’t have a break. It’s a soft tissue issue and it’s painful and just didn’t feel like he could push up the floor.”

Now, Jones is back for Auburn as it prepares for a rematch against Alabama. When the two teams met earlier this season on Feb. 15, Auburn emerged with a 94-85 victory. Jones was pivotal in the win, recording 16 points while shooting 5-9 from the field.

Unlike the first time the two teams met this season, Auburn will have the home-court advantage on Saturday. It’s not a stretch to assume the Tigers will be ready. They haven’t lost two games in a row this season.

Moreover, they’re not the only ones coming off a loss. Alabama has lost its last two outings, most recently falling 99-94 to Florida. Alabama head coach Nate Oats doesn’t plan on adding to that streak.

“They’re good. We can play a really good basketball game and still lose to them,” Oats said of Auburn. “We’re gonna have to do all the little things well. We’re gonna have to make free throws, we didn’t turn it over much the first game.

“We’re gonna have to take care of the ball again. We can’t let some stuff that we did well the first game all of a sudden go to the wayside emphasizing some other stuff too.”

Auburn and Alabama will square off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will air live on ESPN.