Utah Jazz: Boozer a no-go tonight

All-star power forward Carlos Boozer won't play in the Jazz's preseason home opener tonight vs. Phoenix, but he plans to play in Sunday's exhibition game at Portland.

Boozer missed the Jazz's preseason-opening win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Lakers in Anaheim, Calif., due to soreness in his strained left hamstring.

Boozer said after the team's shootaround this morning that he plans to practice Friday and Saturday and — assuming all goes well — play in his first preseason against the Trail Blazers.

Rookie big man Kosta Koufos also is not expected to play tonight, though he remains a "game-time decision." Koufos also has a strained left hamstring.

With Boozer still out, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said today that he plans to start usual starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko at power forward and to give reserve swingman C.J. Miles his second straight start at small forward. Usual backup Paul Millsap opened in Boozer's power forward spot against the Lakers.

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