Back injury sidelines Kirilenko, will not travel to Portland with Jazz

Starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko will not travel with the team for the Jazz's game Saturday night at Portland.

Kirilenko injured his back in the final five minutes of practice Thursday, and is out with what the Jazz are calling lower-back inflammation.

Kirilenko did not practice this morning, and planned to visit the Jazz's orthopedic specialist, Dr. Lyle Mason, later today.

The timetable for how long the 2004 NBA All-Star from Russia is expected to be out beyond Saturday was not immediately known.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said prior to Friday's practice that he wasn't sure how he would replace Kirilenko in the opening lineup for Saturday's game against the Trail Blazers.

He has multiple options, including starting usual backup shooting guard C.J. Miles at small forward and giving Miles' backup-2 minutes to recently acquired swingman Kyle Korver, or plugging Korver into Kirilenko's spot and sticking with Miles off the bench behind starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer.

Kirilenko has not missed any regular-season games because of back issues since the 2005-06 season, when he sat out six because of painful muscle spasms.

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