Utah Jazz: Harpring won't make Sacramento trip; Boozer, Kirilenko 'doubtful'

For various reasons — both personal and medical — multiple Jazz players did not participate in practice this morning.

And as an ongoing theme for the 2008-09 season, don't expect the Jazz to be back at full roster strength for Tuesday night's game at Sacramento, either.

As of this morning, Matt Harpring (strained lower back) will not travel with the team for the road game against the Kings, while Carlos Boozer (strained quad) and Andrei Kirilenko (inflamed ankle) are considered "doubtful" for the quick road trip.

A team spokesman also said backup point guard Brevin Knight (sprained index finger) will be a "game-time decision" after practicing today.

The Jazz also practiced Monday without backup point guard Ronnie Price. He was attending his uncle's funeral but will meet the team in Sacramento to play Tuesday.

Kirilenko received a cortisone shot to help him deal with inflammation and pain in his right ankle, which sustained a "point of irritation" last weekend. He left Saturday's blowout loss to the New Jersey Nets in the second quarter and didn't return. He is being listed as "possible" for Wednesday's home game against Miami.

Harpring, who tweaked his lower back during warm-ups before last Monday's game against Chicago, underwent an MRI test that showed degeneration in his spine's L5-S1 or lumbosacral joint and a slight bulging disk. He received an epidural for treatment.

The veteran small forward, who battled ankle infection for months, won't travel and is "doubtful" for Wednesday's contest.

Boozer, on the other hand, has increased his activity level and is said to be improving but remains "doubtful" for Tuesday. He has missed six games with a strained left quad and bruised knee cap, injuries suffered on Nov. 19 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Though still practicing and playing shorthanded, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he isn't going to feel sorry for himself — and he expects the same attitude from his available players "who get paid" to perform.

"That's just part of the game. That's basketball," Sloan said. "If you like to play. (If) I'm sitting there on the bench, I say, 'OK, I've got my opportunity.' I'm going to be ready to play. Hope I'm in shape. But hoping won't get you in shape."

When a media member jokingly suggested that assistant coach and former Jazz forward Ty Corbin might participate in practice to fill a void, Sloan laughed but said it was against NBA rules.

"You can't get on the floor unless you've got an NBA contract. Coaches contracts don't work," he said. "If they did, we'd all be out there making some (dang) money."

Contributing: Tim Buckley; E-mail: jody@desnews.com