McLeod's back injury called more serious

Jazz point guard Keith McLeod's back injury is a bit more serious than originally suspected.

It turns out McLeod, who has been out with what the team had said was back spasms, has what Jazz officials now are calling an avulsion fracture in his lower back.

"Keith has suffered a small avulsion fracture of the lumbar transverse process, which is a small, bony attachment of the vertebrae in the lower back where the muscles attach," team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Mason said in a statement released late Saturday night. "This is not drastically different than what we originally diagnosed, but it will take a little longer to heal."

When McLeod did not play Saturday night against Memphis at the Delta Center, it marked the fourth straight game he has missed since sustaining the injury Nov. 12 at Chicago.

It's expected McLeod will be out at least 7-to-10 more days, meaning he likely will miss a back-to-back set Monday vs. Milwaukee and Tuesday at Seattle as well as Friday's home game against Golden State.

It's believed McLeod was hurt when he was accidentally kneed in the back by Bulls big man Tyson Chandler during a scramble for a loose ball.

"In the aftermath of the collision," Mason said, "Keith has suffered from back spasms which have not cleared up with time."

X-rays taken Saturday revealed the fracture.

McLeod's injury will not prompt the Jazz to make a roster move, basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said Saturday night.

"We'll stay like we are," O'Connor said.

That means rookie Deron Williams and journeyman Milt Palacio will be sharing duties at the point.

Until becoming sidelined, McLeod had started in each of the Jazz's first seven games of the season. Playing 22.3 minutes per game, he was averaging 6.7 assists and 3.0 assists.

Since McLeod has been out, Palacio has made one start and Williams three at the point, though Williams and Palacio did open in the backcourt together Friday at Phoenix.

IT'S A BOY: Jazz forward Matt Harpring's wife, Amanda, gave birth to the couple's first child, a boy, at 10:15 p.m. Friday.

Luke Matthew Harpring checked in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and 20 inches long.

With shoes, he will be listed at 6-foot-7.