From Deseret News archives:
Boozer nearing his return
Briggs said Boozer, who hasn't practiced since straining his left hamstring during the second session of two-a-day training-camp workouts on Oct. 8, took part in full-court drills but not full-contact practice Monday.
"We'll see how he responds to that," Briggs said.
Regardless of the response, though, Boozer has been deemed "doubtful" for the Jazz's preseason games tonight vs. the Los Angeles Lakers at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, Calif., and Wednesday night at Houston.
Briggs wants Boozer to participate in a full practice before playing his first game.
That means Boozer probably will have only one chance to play in a preseason game, Friday night vs. Denver at the Delta Center — and even that is not a certainty.
"In a perfect world you'd like to get him into the Denver game," Briggs said, "but we'll have to play that by ear."
Boozer was the Jazz's leading scorer last season, but he also missed the season's final 31 games with a strained foot.
The Jazz open the regular season Nov. 2 at home vs. Dallas.
HARPRING MAY GO: Forward Matt Harpring, practiced Monday as expected and might make his preseason debut tonight in Anaheim, Briggs said.
Harpring, Utah's third-leading scorer last season behind Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, has missed all of training camp and all the Jazz's exhibition schedule to date while rehabbing from offseason microfracture surgery on his right knee.
His recovery timetable, however, remains on schedule.
TIME CHANGE: Due to a conflict with the World Series, tipoff for the Jazz's preseason game vs. the Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston has been changed from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (MDT) Wednesday.
Game 4 of the series between Houston and the Chicago White Sox is being played just a few blocks away from Toyota Center, so start time of the NBA exhibition was moved up to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.
HOPES ALIVE: All 17 players still in Jazz camp are traveling to Anaheim and Houston, coach Jerry Sloan said Monday.
That total includes three free agents with non-guaranteed contracts, big man James Lang, guard Andre Owens and former Utah State forward Spencer Nelson.
The Jazz must trim to their roster to 15 before the regular season opens next week.
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
