Utah Jazz: Boozer not sure when he'll return

Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer — who sat out for a 12th straight game when Utah played Portland late Thursday night — has quit trying to commit.

Boozer has been out since spraining the quadriceps tendon over his left knee and bruising his kneecap in a Nov. 19 game against Milwaukee.

He earlier had said he hoped to be back either Thursday or Saturday night, when the Jazz play host to Orlando.

But when he was asked after Thursday's morning shootaround if he was willing to say he was prepared to play against the Magic, or when specifically he'd be back, Boozer indicated otherwise.

"I don't want to give you guys a day," the two-time All-Star said. "Every time I give you a day on it, it's like another day after that.

"So, we'll just have to wait and see."

Boozer did again say he's feeling much better.

"There's one thing left to heal up, and I'll be back, hopefully very soon," he said.

Asked what that "one thing" was, Boozer was not specific, instead saying, "Just for it to be strengthened. I'm trying to make it strong so I don't reinjure it."

Boozer said various drills he's done this week left him feeling less than prepared to return.

"I've been running every day and doing defensive slides and doing lateral stuff, just to test it," he said. "That's how come I know it's not ready with it.

"I'm trying to explode with it," Boozer added, suggesting he still is experiencing pain when attempting that. "It's right there. I think it will be very soon. Hopefully (Saturday). I don't know when."

Boozer also again said he doesn't feel the need to go through a practice before playing.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan on Thursday indicated he's OK with that.

"If we don't have the opportunity, and he feels like can play, I probably (would allow that)," Sloan said. "Because he's a veteran player who I would hope knows what's going on."

Added Sloan: "I don't want to put any pressure on him ... I want them to come on their own, when they're ready to play, so they don't say, 'Well, we felt like we ought to come back and play because we're in trouble.' No. That will work itself out if we just come and play basketball when it comes time."

WILLIAMS' ANKLE: More evidence that the left ankle Jazz point guard Deron Williams sprained in the season continues to weigh on his mind: