SNYDER OUT: Jazz 2004 first-round draft choice Kirk Snyder has been lost to the Houston Rockets because of a broken hand suffered while driving to the basket in Monday's game against New York.

Knicks center Jerome James fouled Snyder on the play, and according to the Houston Chronicle James "came down hard with a swing that broke a bone between Snyder's thumb and forefinger."

The Associated Press reported that the team said surgery has been performed to repair a spiral fracture of the second metacarpal bone.

Snyder — who was in Houston's regular rotation averaging 5.7 points — is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks.

HMMM: According to Tuesday's Rocky Mountain News, Denver basketball operations vice president Mark Warkentien said the Nuggets traded their No. 49 pick in the second round of last June's NBA Draft only after "forward Paul Millsap, the last player that interested them, went No. 47 to Utah."

Millsap is an early candidate for the steal of the draft, averaging 17 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in his first 11 NBA games.

AND FINALLY: A perhaps-telling quote from Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, on injuries: "Last year, we had so many injuries I think guys prayed they're going to get hurt. That's what happens. The more you play that way the more you get hurt."

---

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com