Utah Jazz notes: Boozer not playing tonight against Heat

SACRAMENTO — Not even a visit from the Miami Heat could warm Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer into the notion of playing tonight.

"I play against them ... all summer anyway," said Boozer, who makes his offseason home in Miami.

The Alaska-raised Boozer — constantly linked to the Heat in South Florida and national media rumors suggesting Miami will try to sign him should he opt out of the final year of his contract in Utah and become a free agent this offseason — didn't play Tuesday night in Sacramento.

The two-time All-Star has missed seven straight games now due to a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap suffered in a Nov. 19 game against Milwaukee.

Boozer not only suggested after Tuesday's morning shootaround that he won't play tonight, but also that his absence is likely to be even longer.

"It's healing," Boozer said of his knee, "but it's not healing as fast as I want to."

In fact, Boozer indicated he likely won't play at all this week — a stretch in which the Jazz have four games in five nights.

"The pain is still there a little bit, but it is getting better, which is a great sign," he said. "It's just not strong enough. I need to run full speed, and cut, and those type of things.

"So," Boozer added, "I'm probably maybe a week away."

Both Boozer and Jazz coach Jerry Sloan also said Tuesday that they initially feared the injury was much more serious.

"My first worry," Boozer said, "was that it was going to be bad, and potential surgery. ... But we dodged that bullet, thank God."

"I thought his knee was hurt worse than what it was," Sloan added. "As it turned out, they decided there wasn't anything structurally wrong with it."

With Boozer out, Sloan has been starting usual backup Paul Millsap and using rookie big man Kosta Koufos behind Millsap.

"He (Koufos) is not quite ready to be thrown in there for that period of time," Sloan said, "although he's had some moments where he's played pretty well."

Boozer, meanwhile, thinks he has a handle on why rumors regarding him and the Heat just won't die.

"Because I live there," he said, "and I'm good friends with a lot of guys on the team."

Boozer also has a relationship with Heat owner Mickey Arison, the longtime Carnival Cruise Lines president.

"Me and Mick," Boozer said, "are really good friends. Me and D-Wade (Heat star and Team USA Olympic teammate Dywane Wade) are really great friends. A lot of other guys — Udonis (Haslem). I mean, I can go down the list. (Former Heat star) Alonzo (Mourning). The whole team. We work out together in the summertime.

"But," he added, "it's just friendships, know what I mean?"

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