Utah Jazz: Kirilenko to play tonight

Published: Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 1:14 p.m. MST
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The Utah Jazz won't be anywhere near full strength tonight against the Toronto Raptors in their 8:30 ESPN game, but they will get at least one of their international players back for their only international opponent.

Sixth-man Andrei Kirilenko's right ankle has responded to his treatment and a cortisone shot well enough that he is planning on hitting the court against U.S. Olympian Chris Bosh and company.

"It feels pretty good," said Kirilenko, who missed two games this week after leaving the New Jersey Nets game last Saturday with an injury. "I'm going to play."

Though he admitted to being a bit scared to test out his ankle — and a bit anxious about receiving his first cortisone shot, which he said worked well — Kirilenko shot both Thursday and today and "nothing bothers me."

Carlos Boozer, Bosh's Team USA teammate, isn't expected to play for the ninth consecutive game even though his condition is now being listed by the Jazz as "doubtful" instead of "out" due to a strained left quad tendon.

Kirilenko said the team definitely anticipates getting its All-Star power forward — among others — back in the rotation.

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"I hope we get everybody back as soon as possible and we start playing with full roster," Kirilenko said. "We're definitely missing some guys, especially Booz. We're waiting for him."

The Jazz have two other players who will be considered game-time decisions: Matt Harpring and Kyrylo Fesenko, both of whom are nursing strained lower backs.

Paul Millsap is on the injury report with a sprained left big toe, but he is "probable" for action. After shootaround this morning, Millsap said he's feeling "so-so" but that he plans to keep on playing.

Jarron Collins, of course, is also out for the Jazz until at least January with an inflamed right elbow.

Tonight's game will also mark the first for the Raptors under the direction of newly appointed interim head coach Jay Triano. He replaced Sam Mitchell, the former NBA coach of the year who was fired after the Raptors' slow 8-9 start.

The Jazz are hoping to snap a two-game losing streak against Toronto, which has lost to Utah six straight times.


E-mail: jody@desnews.com

Recent comments

Bodies need rest periods each year, and the Jazz Olympians didn't get...

OLympic Breakdowns | Dec. 6, 2008 at 10:08 a.m.

Please don't be overly confident that we are going to show up at the...

Anonymous | Dec. 5, 2008 at 5:02 p.m.

We will win tonight because we have AK back and he ADDS alot of stats...

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