Utah Jazz: Boozer, Korver, Collins all out for Spurs game

SAN ANTONIO — Starting power forward Carlos Boozer, backup shooting guard Kyle Korver and reserve big man Jarron Collins all will not play when the Jazz visit the San Antonio Spurs tonight.

Reserve point guard Brevin Knight is expected to return after missing one game due to a groin strain, but usual starter Deron Williams continues to be listed as "doubtful" because of the sprained ankle he sustained in an Oct. 18 preseason game at Chicago.

Boozer is out because of the strained quadriceps muscle he sustained in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's win over Milwaukee. He's unlikely to play Saturday at Memphis as well.

With the two-time All-Star unavailable, rookie Kosta Koufos will return to the starting lineup, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said after today's morning shootaround.

Koufos had started four games last week in place of absent center Mehmet Okur, and Collins — who continues to be bothered by complications from his bruised right elbow— started in Okur's place for last Monday's victory over Phoenix.

Koufos will open at power forward tonight, but will be assigned to guard Spurs center =46abricio Oberto while Okur guards San Antonio All-Star power forward Tim Duncan.

"(Okur) usually guards (Duncan) anyway," Sloan said this morning. "Tries to. We've never had anybody guard him. That's why we've lost a hundred games against them."

The Jazz actually have lost 18 straight regular-season games in San Antonio, 21 including postseason play.

Starting 19-year-old Koufos allows both sixth man Andrei Kirilenko and backup power forward Paul Millsap to continue to come off the bench, Sloan added.

"I can't play Andrei 48 minutes — and I've got guys who (need to) get some minutes somewhere," Sloan said. "I think it's a great opportunity for a young kid to get a chance to play some, and realize what he's getting into in this business."

Meanwhile, Korver aggravated his sprained right shooting wrist in Wednesday's game.

He had a brace on the wrist this morning, and suggested the injury may be a bit worse than it was previously. But before deciding how to proceed with further treatment beyond what he's already getting, Korver will give it a few days to see how the wrist responds.

"I just fell on it again — fell backward, landed on it," he said.

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