Utah Jazz: Boozer cautious about hamstring, game-time decision Thursday

Carlos Boozer and Kosta Koufos, both nursing strained hamstrings, will be "game-time decisions" for Thursday night's preseason home opener vs. Phoenix, a Jazz spokesman said tonight.

Boozer, an All-Star power forward, missed Tuesday night's 99-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Anaheim, Calif., because of soreness in his left hamstring.

While working up a sweat on an elliptical exercise machine prior to practice this morning, Boozer said he's "feeling better."

"The soreness is starting to go away a little bit," he said before taking part in some, but not all, of the practice. "We'll see how it goes."

Boozer tore the same muscle three years ago, when he missed 49 games of the 2005-06 season. That in mind, he wants to take extra precaution to not cause further damage during exhibition play.

"Instead of trying to push it and being stupid about it, we're going to be safe and make sure the soreness goes away," he said today.

Koufos also said he's "feeling better," though he didn't practice this morning.

The rookie big man strained his left hammy two minutes after entering Tuesday's exhibition.

"I just tweaked it in the back," he said.

Koufos said he doesn't have a history of hamstring injuries.

Meanwhile, veteran small forward Matt Harpring continues to rehab his right ankle and still has no timetable for a full return.

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