Utah Jazz: Millsap feels worn down

Asked after Sunday's loss at Golden State if he thought struggling power forward Paul Millsap looks worn out, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan went big-picture.

"I don't know," he said. "It looks like everybody's worn down."

The gritty Millsap, however, readily admits to being a snapshot of personal exhaustion.

"The physicality of the game, a lot of dirty work that I do, the licks I take — I mean, I think it's all just taking a toll on me right now," he said.

"In particular, my knee," added Millsap, who has been playing extensively despite a still-bruised right knee and a previously strained left. "You know, physically, mentally — that's still something I've got to learn (to) deal with. I'm still learning."

Much has been asked this season of Millsap, a reserve power forward for his two NBA seasons who has taken on a starting role since shortly after two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer went down with a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

And he's responded, averaging 14.8 points and 9.3 rebounds over 46 games.

But his production and considerable minutes — 32.2 per game, which is 12.8 more than his career average coming into the season — have come with a price.

In the Jazz's last two games, Millsap really has hit a wall.

He had just two points and missed his only three shots from the field in Friday's victory at Sacramento, and scored just eight with 4-for-12 field shooting while logging 36 minutes in the loss to the Warriors.

Against Golden State, he had only six rebounds; against the Kings, eight.

All this from someone who earlier this season enjoyed a streak of 19 straight double-doubles.

Boozer, meanwhile, has missed 40 games in a row and isn't expected to return until after this weekend's NBA All-Star Game.

Combine that with the fact forward Andrei Kirilenko has missed 10 consecutive games due to a surgically repaired ankle, and it's little wonder that the 2006 second-round draft choice feels the way he does.

No wonder, too, that he eagerly looks forward to the days off that will come after the Jazz play Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

"It's just tough," Millsap said. "I mean, point-blank: I've been struggling a bit.

"It happens to everybody," he added. "I'll just try to get to the break, and rest myself up, and, you know, make a run in the second half."

After Wednesday, the Jazz will not practice again until Monday night.

"One more game and I can rest myself up," Millsap said. "I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, though. I should get out there and do what I've got to do."