Harpring finally returns; Jazz lose to the Lakers

ANAHEIM, Calif. — One back, one still to go.

So goes the count of injured regulars finally returning to action for the Jazz, who with just one week and two more exhibitions to go before the 2005-06 NBA regular season gets under way still have not played a preseason game with all three of their top scorers from a season ago.

One of the trio, Matt Harpring, made his exhibition debut in the Jazz's late-starting 95-85 loss to coach Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and the back-to-the-triangle Los Angeles Lakers.

Harpring, who underwent repeat microfracture surgery on his right knee shortly after last season ended, missed all of two-a-day training camp and Utah's first four exhibitions while rehabbing.

Roughly six months post-surgery, however, he is going again.

Harpring, who averaged a Jazz third-best 14.0 points in 78 games last season, started Tuesday at small forward in a lineup that also had rookie Deron Williams at the point, Devin Brown at shooting guard, Mehmet Okur at power forward and Jarron Collins in the middle.

Last season's co-captain played nearly five first-quarter minutes before being replaced by Andrei Kirilenko, who came off the bench for the first time this preseason.

Harpring then went another 5:27 in the second quarter, finishing the opening half — and his entire stint, as it turned out — with three points on 1-of-3 shooting from the field, one rebound and a couple turnovers.

Still hobbled, however, is projected starting power forward Carlos Boozer, the Jazz's top scorer with a 17.8 points-per-game average in 51 games last season.

Boozer, who missed the season's final 31 due to a strained right foot, strained his left hamstring during the second session of two-a-days on the fifth day of camp.

His status for the Jazz's regular-season opener vs. Dallas next Wednesday night remains somewhat uncertain.

Boozer has not played in a preseason game or even taken part in a full practice since Oct. 8, and he is dubbed "doubtful" for the Jazz's visit with the Houston Rockets tonight — their sixth of seven October exhibitions.

Jazz brass hope Boozer can play in their final preseason game, Friday at the Delta Center vs. Denver, and have not publicly suggested they are too worried about his November availability.