Gimpy Harpring sits game out

MIAMI — The Jazz played Miami on Friday night without forward and co-captain Matt Harpring, who won't play tonight in Atlanta either.

An MRI on his bruised left knee was negative for structural damage, but between that lingering injury and a bruised pelvis sustained Wednesday night in Orlando the Jazz decided to sit the slumping Harpring for at least two games.

Despite playing 20 minutes or more in each outing, Harpring has scored four points or fewer in his last four games and has shot a combined 2-of-19 from the field in that span.

His status for the Jazz's game against New Orleans on Monday night is questionable.

With Harpring out, rookie Kirk Snyder played eight minutes Friday — his longest stint since the Jazz's season-opener. He committed two turnovers and finished with two points, missing his only two shots from the field.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Rather than play three point guards Friday — like he did in the Jazz's first two games since usual starter Carlos Arroyo returned from a sprained left ankle — Jazz coach Jerry Sloan went with just two in an overtime loss to the Heat.

Benched was Keith McLeod, who started six straight games in Arroyo's absence and has averaged 7.5 points and 5.0 assists in his eight games played.

Arroyo was backed up by veteran Howard Eisley, who was signed by the Jazz just in time for the first game of the season — after Arroyo sprained in his ankle in Utah's final game of the preseason.

Eisley played just 13 minutes Friday, scoring two points with one assist.

"I couldn't keep playing (all three)," Sloan said.

Now, Sloan added, "maybe . . . Howard will get a chance to get more comfortable playing and know where we are."

"I feel bad for Keith, because he worked real hard," Sloan said. "It was a difficult decision to have to make, on his behalf — because of what he's done. We just hope that things go well for him as we move forward."

STILL AVAILABLE: Tickets still are on sale for the Jazz's game Monday, when John Stockton's No. 12 will be retired to the rafters of the Delta Center.

The game previously was believed to be a sellout, but the team announced Friday that "a few tickets" remain.

MISC.: The wives of five Jazz players — Arroyo, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, Raja Bell and Mehmet Okur — made the trip to Miami. Arroyo and Bell have ties to the South Florida area, both having played at Florida International University . . . University of Utah product Michael Doleac played 11 minutes for Miami, scoring three points but pulling down no rebounds . . . Former Jazz swingman Shandon Anderson also came off the bench for the Heat, and went scoreless on 0-of-4 shooting from the field in 24 minutes.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com