Utah Jazz: Bruised knee relegates Millsap to sideline

Though he participated in Utah's morning shootaround, the power forward was a late scratch from the Jazz lineup Monday with a bruised right knee.

Millsap had the knee drained of fluids earlier Monday at the office of the team's physician.

He felt sore, but the team doesn't believe it's a bad injury. Jazz doctors suggested to Millsap not to play, adding that he is expected to be good to go against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Millsap was hurt Saturday when Kyle Korver accidentally collided with him in the second quarter of Utah's win over Detroit. The game was Millsap's fourth back after a sprained knee — the other one — sidelined him for three contests.

"He banged it pretty good the other night," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said.

Millsap had played in 194 games and had never missed a basketball game in his life until he sprained a ligament in his left knee on Dec. 23 against Milwaukee.

Usual sixth-man sub Andrei Kirilenko came off the bench for the fourth time this season to replace Millsap, who replaced Carlos Boozer in the starting lineup after the two-time All-Star power forward was injured on Nov. 19.

Millsap made the most of his time replacing Boozer, who is out at least three more weeks after having arthroscopic surgery performed on his left knee in Los Angeles last Friday. A third-year pro out of Louisiana Tech, Millsap reeled off 19 straight double-doubles before that streak ended Saturday.

O'Connor said the Jazz will decide before this afternoon — when they hope to know more about Millsap's injury — whether they'll recall big man Kyrylo Fesenko from his assignment with the Utah Flash. Like the Jazz, the D-League squad leaves today for a three-game road trip.

Fesenko has been with the Flash since Friday.

WILLIAMS OK: The Jazz got a bit of a scare late in the fourth quarter of their 120-113 win after Indiana's Jeff Foster landed on Deron Williams' left leg — an incidental run-in that left Utah's point guard grimacing a bit and clutching his leg on the floor.

Williams had precautionary X-rays taken on his left foot, but results came out negative.

Williams scored 10 points, including a crucial long 3-pointer, after the painful play.

ALMOST LIKE HOME: When the Jazz play at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, C.J. Miles' family will be there for a small reunion. The small forward, who'd started every game this season before missing the past two with a sprained right ankle, hopes they'll watch him play and not just check out how smooth he looks in a suit.

Recent comments

Add your comment