Utah Jazz notebook: Collins may need surgery on ailing elbow

The Jazz will be without reserve big man Jarron Collins for at least four more weeks and perhaps more than eight.

Collins said Tuesday he is deciding between rest or surgery to calm the inflammation and pain in his injured right elbow.

If he opts for an operation to clean out the joint and/or reattach whatever may be torn, Collins would be out a minimum of eight weeks. If he passes on the surgery and decides to simply rest instead, the timetable for his absence is four to six weeks.

"Right now," Collins said Tuesday, "I'm just trying to gather information to try to make the decision that's best for me, to get me back out on the court.

"It's a tough decision," he added, "because either way I'm going to miss some time."

Collins — who has been diagnosed with bursitis in the elbow and related triceps tendinitis — has appeared in only two games and logged just 16 minutes for the Jazz this season.

He's missed the team's last four games.

Collins, who is in his eighth season with the Jazz, initially bruised the elbow during an offseason golf-cart accident that also injured his twin brother, Jason Collins of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Other injury updates:

All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer, who has missed the Jazz's last three games due to a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap, did not practice Tuesday. A team spokesman said he is improving but is doubtful for tonight. ... Reserve point guard Brevin Knight, who sprained his left index finger in Monday's loss to Chicago, didn't practice Tuesday and also is listed as doubtful for tonight. ... Reserve forward Matt Harpring was not at practice Tuesday due to back spasms that struck during pre-game warmups Monday; he visited a doctor for treatment instead, and is doubtful as well for tonight. ... Backup shooting guard Kyle Korver, who has missed three games because of a re-sprained right shooting wrist, didn't practice Tuesday, either; he also was said to be improving, and will be a game-time decision tonight.

GREAT IN '08: Before Monday's 101-100 loss to the Bulls at the buzzer, the Jazz hadn't suffered a regular-season defeat at EnergySolutions Arena since falling to the Lakers 106-95 on March 20. Those are the Jazz's only two non-playoff home losses this calendar year, dropping their record in Utah to 32-2 in 2008.

Even as dominant as they've been at the ESA, it was the way they lost in front of their home fans — on a long, last-second jumper by Larry Hughes — that stung the Jazz more than the location.

"I'm not shocked to lose at home," said Jazz starting small forward C.J. Miles. "I'm shocked to lose that game, period, because we should have won it."