Harpring ill, may not play tonight

TORONTO — The Jazz may be without veteran backup small forward Matt Harpring tonight — but not because of his surgically repaired right knee.

Rather, the 6-2 Jazz on Wednesday were calling Harpring "doubtful" for tonight's game at Toronto because of an apparent stomach virus.

Harpring traveled with the team for its three-game trip, which also includes stops Friday at Cleveland and Saturday at Indiana. He did not, however, take part in a morning shootaround Wednesday, instead staying back at the Jazz's team hotel.

Harpring did not play in Utah's win over Memphis last Saturday because of swelling in his knee, which twice previously was repaired via microfracture surgery and this past summer was surgically cleaned of scar tissue.

He did return, though, to play in Monday's win over Sacramento, scoring 10 points in 13 minutes off the bench.

The 10-season vet is averaging 8.0 points in seven games this season.

If Harpring does not play tonight, rookie shooting guard Morris Almond will join the active roster and swingman C.J. Miles likely will back up starter Andrei Kirilenko at small forward.

NOTES: The Jazz's 111.9 points-per-game scoring average leads the NBA heading into tonight's game, three-plus better than Denver's 108.1 ... Jazz starting power forward Carlos Boozer is tied with Orlando's Dwight Howard for the league lead in double-doubles. Both have posted seven in eight outings this season ... Going into tonight's play, Jazz starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer's average of 3.0 steals per game ranks second only to the 3.12 of Denver's Allen Iverson.

---

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com