Jazz lose Lopez for rest of season

Keith McLeod might play tonight for the Utah Jazz against the Dallas Mavericks, and if he does, the timing couldn't be better.

The Jazz announced Tuesday that point guard Raul Lopez will undergo surgery on his knee — the previously healthy one, not the one that's already been operated on twice — and miss the rest of the season.

Lopez injured the knee in Utah's last game, a week ago against the Lakers.

That leaves the team that started out the season with too many point guards with one for-sure healthy player at the position — veteran Howard Eisley. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said a decision on McLeod's availability wouldn't be made until after morning shootaround today. McLeod, who has been on the injured list since Jan. 26 with a strained hamstring, likely will be activated today, replaced by Lopez.

In other injury news, Carlos Boozer didn't practice Tuesday, still suffering from a sprained right foot.

Andrei Kirilenko did practice, but Sloan said he wouldn't make a decision on his participation in tonight's Delta Center game until after practice.

Kirilenko says he feels dandy, however, especially after the team enjoyed a longer-than-usual All-Star break. Like every Jazz player except Lopez — he remained in Salt Lake — Kirilenko used the break to get away. He spent the time in Russia, visiting family and friends.

"It was great," Kirilenko said. "I had a very full three days."

Asked about his sprained ankle, he said, "Ankle feels good. I've had a lot of treatment . . . I want to play. I feel like I'm going to play tomorrow."

Boozer spent the break in Los Angeles, which, coincidentally, is where he was rumored to be headed in a trade for the Lakers' Lamar Odom that was denied by virtually everyone on the planet.

"It's amazing how that stuff gets going. I didn't talk to Kevin (O'Connor, Jazz v.p.) at all," said Sloan, implying that there wouldn't have been a trade if he hadn't had some input.

Boozer said he was aware of the rumors but didn't give them much credence.

"I heard about it, obviously," he said. "You can't control that type of stuff. All I can do is play basketball."

Boozer said the time off relaxing and going to some movies was therapeutic for him and, "Hopefully, it's been good for the whole team."

To hear them tell it, it was.