Utah Jazz notebook: Rest might be a better option than practice time for weary Jazz

PHOENIX — They practiced the morning they left early last week for a road trip that started in Chicago.

But the Jazz didn't practice during the four-games-in-six-nights trip that also included stops in Detroit, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City.

And they haven't practiced since, not even Thursday, a travel day but also a rare off day during a busy March that actually started in Utah.

"Some guys, I think, feel like they need a little rest, and we'll try to accommodate them any way we can to see if we can move forward," said coach Jerry Sloan, whose club visits Phoenix tonight in its lone road game amid 4-of-5 at home and returns home to face New Orleans on Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena. "That's why we've cut our practices down to practically nothing, so we hopefully don't tax them too much and they can be ready to play."

Sloan, however, seemingly has done so reluctantly.

"It's always a fine line," he said, "to try to get in there what guys like to feel and what they like to do, and how much energy they burn off."

INJURY UPDATES: The Jazz still are calling starting point guard Deron Williams and starting shooting guard Wesley Matthews "game-time decisions" for tonight's visit with the Suns, but starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko has been downgraded to "questionable."

Kirilenko exited Wednesday night's win over Minnesota in the third quarter after re-straining his left calf. Matthews mildly sprained his left medial collateral knee ligament in the third quarter but finished the game. Williams mildly sprained his left ankle and also bruised his already sore left shoulder, but he finished against the Timberwolves, too.

An MRI exam performed Thursday on Williams' shoulder showed nothing more than a contusion.

The injuries are taking a toll on the Jazz, who've also had starting center Mehmet Okur battling a bad back and backup point Ronnie Price a bruised wrist during the past week

"We've got some guys banged up, but we've had some guys come in and step up and play basketball," backup power forward Paul Millsap said. "It's all part of the season.

"I think everyone is (banged up) a little," he added. "I have my nicks and knacks every now and then, but I love the game too much not to play."

AGENT, JAZZ MEET:Rob Pelinka, the agent for Jazz starting power forward Carlos Boozer, met on Wednesday with Jazz CEO and family ownership representative Greg Miller to discuss the two-time NBA All-Star's future with the franchise.