PHOENIX — As expected, injured Andrei Kirilenko, who missed Wednesday's win over Minnesota, didn't travel with the team for tonight's game at Phoenix.

Instead, Kirilenko remained in Utah, where a team spokesman said the Jazz's usual starting small forward will receive treatment from the club's physical therapist and its chiropractor.

Kirilenko has shed the crutch he's used since sustaining a sprained right hip in last Monday's win over Dallas, an injury stemming from a flagrant foul by Dirk Nowitzki that caused the Mavericks star to be suspended without pay from Thursday's game against Houston.

He'll be reexamined Saturday morning, but for now is being called "doubtful" for Saturday's home game against Denver.

Reserve swingman C.J. Miles is expected to make a second straight start in Kirilenko's play tonight.

TRICKLE DOWN: The recent trade sending Shawn Marion to Miami and bringing Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix has a trickle-down effect.

According to the Thursday's East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune, "No player has been more affected by (Marion's) departure than (ex-Jazz guard) Raja Bell, trying his best to match up with assignments that usually fell to Marion during his first 2 1/2 years as a Sun."

The newspaper reported that the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Bell "had little success when (Denver star Carmelo) Anthony ... went inside and collected 30 points and 13 rebounds" in Denver's win Wednesday over Phoenix.

"It's my job," Bell was quoted as saying. "But on a night like this when I'm giving up a good 30 pounds and three inches to the kid ... and when they are calling the game the way they called it, there wasn't much I could do.

"I'll fight until I can't no more, but he's too big."

SIDELINE SITUATION: Multiple newspapers reported Thursday that ex-Jazz forward Donyell Marshall — recently traded from Cleveland to Seattle — clashed Wednesday on the sideline with Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo.

According to the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune, the two "had words when Carlesimo subbed in Luke Ridnour for Marshall. As he walked toward the bench, Marshall appeared to complain about not getting enough minutes, and Carlesimo appeared to tell Marshall he didn't like his effort. After the game, Marshall said the two had a disagreement over defensive rotations. ... Minutes after the argument Marshall threw a Gatorade bottle onto the floor and sulked in his chair for the rest of the first half. Carlesimo didn't put him back in the game."