Utah Jazz: Walking wounded hoping to heal

SALT LAKE CITY — The holiday season has been over for a month now, and crunch time for tax season is a couple of months away.

In the NBA, it's currently toll season for players' bodies.

With 49 games behind them and the All-Star break still two weeks away, Utah Jazz guys are feeling it after being on the go and taking blows without much time off since early October.

That was a common explanation of why four Jazz players were unavailable for Tuesday's practice due to various injuries.

Deron Williams (wrist), Paul Millsap (pinkie) and Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) each received treatment at the team's training facility but did not practice. And Mehmet Okur (back) was not in attendance.

With those four players all considered day-to-day, the Jazz are uncertain how many players will be able to dress for tonight's home game against Houston.

"Bottom line is, we have to make do with what we have," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

Suffering injuries, though, is one of those unfortunate comes-with-the-territory aspects of the NBA — not unlike losing streaks.

And the Jazz, who've won two out of three after dropping six straight, have certainly gotten their share of both lately.

"Middle of the season, that's kind of time like when the body getting a lot of pressure from the games," Kirilenko said. "A lot of energy (is) taken. … This is the time of the year you have to be extra careful, take care of yourself and get extra time to recover."

Kirilenko sat on a stationary bike while chatting with reporters, and he had a walking boot on the left ankle he sprained in the fourth quarter of Monday's 83-78 victory over Charlotte. Kirilenko said his ankle was more tender Tuesday than Monday night, and he won't be sure about his availability until he feels it out today.

Millsap sported a finger splint on his wrapped-up left pinkie, which was dislocated and then put back into place in the first quarter Monday.

"It's pretty sore," he said.

Williams received treatment in the off-limits training room, but he gave a statement about his hyperextended right wrist through a team spokesman.

"It's still sore," Williams said of the injury that's kept him out of the past three games. "I can't really shoot the basketball, can't follow through. … I'm getting treatment around the clock trying to get it better."