Harpring now part of Jazz's injury problem

Add co-captain and starting small forward Matt Harpring to the Jazz's growing list of walking wounded.

With All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko, starting shooting guard Raja Bell and center Jarron Collins all still out with right-knee injuries of varying degrees, Harpring also sat out Monday's 97-96 Delta Center win over San Antonio.

The reason: After playing five games in seven nights last week, Harpring had to have fluid drained from his right knee, which was surgically repaired last year.

Harpring, limited to 31 games last season, also missed three games earlier this season with a bruised left knee. The Jazz, however, say he could be ready to return as early as Wednesday vs. Phoenix.

Bell, meanwhile, missed his fifth straight game and sixth in eight due to pain, swelling and a muscle strain.

With those two out, Kirk Snyder started at shooting guard, and Gordan Giricek, who had been starting in Bell's spot, moved to Harpring's place at small forward.

Along with Keith McLeod at point guard, Carlos Boozer at power forward and Curtis Borchardt at center, that's the 11th different starting lineup the Jazz have used this season.

Bell has said he hopes to return sometime later this week.

Kirilenko, who today will practice with the team for the first time since partially tearing his medial collateral ligament in a Nov. 27 game at San Antonio, has said he wants to return Saturday vs. Cleveland.

It remains to be seen, however, if he will make that target date. If not it could be sometime next week, perhaps Jan. 22 vs. Memphis.

Collins, who sprained his MCL, probably won't return until sometime after Kirilenko — and is said to be at least a week away.

Harpring and Bell are on the Jazz's active roster.

Kirilenko and Collins are on the injured list, meaning two players from the 12-man active roster must be shuffled to the injured list before both can return.

PLEASE PASS: A Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter was in Milwaukee over the weekend for a feature update on Jazz rookie lottery pick Kris Humphries, a Minnesota native who played just one high-scoring season for the University of Minnesota before jumping to the NBA.

Both Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and head coach Jerry Sloan had telling comments, suggesting the 19-year-old still is learning his way around the league.