Utah Jazz: Banged-up Jazz trying to find some consistency

SACRAMENTO, Calf. — After an outing like the one the Jazz had last Saturday night, when they followed a showy win over Sacramento with a blowout home loss to New Jersey, coach Jerry Sloan might be inclined to practice his club longer, harder and much more frequently in the near future.

A former player, however, once warned Sloan of the potential consequences of such actions.

"You start doing more practicing," he said, "and you don't have any energy."

Fortunately for Sloan, the temptation to ignore such sage advice is trumped this time by the harsh reality his team has faced all season:

It's not exactly a portrait of perfect health.

"I can't do it when I know I've got to play four games in five days, and I'm still a little shorthanded," said Sloan, whose 11-7 Jazz, coming off the weekend set, open the first of two more back-to-backs when they visit the Kings here tonight.

That in mind, Utah's short-handed rundown:

• Sixth man Andrei Kirilenko, who left Saturday's loss to the Nets in the first half, took a cortisone shot in his sore right ankle Monday morning.

He's being listed as "doubtful" for tonight, but "possible" for Wednesday's home game against Miami.

"Right now it feels way sore," said Kirilenko, who has what the Jazz are calling "a point of irritation" in the ankle. "It feels like something's in it, like a piece of rock, or something, like, throbbing from inside."

• Reserve forward Matt Harpring, who strained his lower back during warmups before a Nov. 24 game vs. Chicago, underwent an MRI exam Sunday that revealed degeneration in his spine's L5-S1, or lumbosacral joint, and a slight disc bulge.

He received an epidural injection, didn't travel to Sacramento and is being called "doubtful" for Wednesday.

• All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer, according to a team spokesman, has "increased his activity level," and is "improving" but remains "doubtful" for tonight.

His status for games beyond that is uncertain.

Boozer has missed six straight games with a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap, injuries sustained Nov. 19 against Milwaukee.

Backup Paul Millsap again is expected to start in his place.

• Reserve point guard Brevin Knight (sprained index finger) practiced Monday and will be a "game-time decision" tonight.

• Reserve point guard Ronnie Price missed practice Monday so he could attend an uncle's funeral, but is expected to rejoin the team in Sacramento today and play tonight.

• Starting point Deron Williams plans to play in all four games this week, despite the left ankle he sprained in the preseason.