Grant logs his first minutes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Friday night, Paul Grant did something he had not since way back on May 5, 1999: play in a regular-season NBA game.

Signed by the Jazz on Thursday after reserve big man Ben Handlogten suffered a season-ending ACL tear that will require surgery sometime later this month, the 7-foot Grant logged six off-the-bench minutes in a 100-88 loss at Memphis.

He finished with two points after hooking in his only shot of the night, and afterward had a grin reflective of someone who had just accomplished a feat he wasn't sure he ever would again.

Not that Grant wasn't waiting for the chance.

"I just made sure I was ready for this call when, and if, it came," he said.

Grant, waived by the Jazz after taking part in his second consecutive training camp in Utah, had been working out regularly back home in Boston when the phone finally rang.

After it did, the soon-to-be 30-year-old found himself playing in just his seventh NBA game — and his first since a one-minute, two-point appearance for the Bucks against New Jersey back in '99.

Originally a 1997 first-round draft choice, the former Boston College and Wisconsin center bounced around the CBA, the ABA, the NBDL and Yugoslavia after foot and ankle injuries cut short his first NBA stint.

As for how he felt: "There's a little catching up to be done," Grant said.

But Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, while bothered by the rest of his team, didn't seem the least bit concerned about Grant.

"I don't have a problem with him," Sloan said.

HARPRING HURTING: One recent MRI exam showed no structural damage in Matt Harpring's aching knee, but the Jazz captain said he is still hurting.

"I'm going to get a second opinion, and talk to some doctors, and see what they think," Harpring said.

Harpring played 33 minutes Friday night, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and one brief sideline exchange with Sloan that prompted the Jazz coach to replace him with rookie Sasha Pavlovic.

Harpring, who did return later in the game, answered back after Sloan chastised him for not passing on a play in which he was called for charging.

RUFFIN CLOSE: After some debate and apparent confusion, the Jazz did not activate injured forward Michael Ruffin on Friday.

But Ruffin, who has been on the injured list all season with a strained abdominal muscle, apparently will be activated soon, perhaps as early next week.

WHERE'S QUINCY?: According to the Diario Informacion newspaper, ex-Jazz first-round draft choice Quincy Lewis is playing in Etosa Alicante in Spain for the rest of the season.

Lewis was waived earlier this season by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com