Utah Jazz notes: Kirilenko added again to the Jazz's never-ending injury list

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Add another one to the Jazz's long list of injuries this season.

Sixth man Andrei Kirilenko is listed as a "game-time decision" for Utah's visit tonight to New Jersey, due to what the Jazz are calling a "strained upper back muscle."

Kirilenko played 31 minutes in a 100-91 loss at Boston on Monday night, scoring 12 points with 4-of-6 shooting from the field and blocking two shots.

He did not practice, however, when the Jazz worked out Tuesday morning at Boston's Emerson College.

The forward from Russia already has missed four games this season — two with a sprained/dislocated right finger and two with an inflamed right ankle.

Also Tuesday, according to the team, All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer "went through the majority of practice" that morning.

Boozer — who has missed 14 straight games due to a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap sustained Nov. 19 vs. Milwaukee — is still listed as "doubtful" for tonight's game against the Nets.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is trying not to be bothered by the uncertainty regarding Boozer, who earlier had said he hoped to return sometime last week.

"All I could do as a coach is whenever he steps on the floor, has the uniform on, I know he's ready to play," Sloan said Tuesday.

Sloan reiterated he does not want to pressure Boozer — or anyone else, for that matter — to return before he's truly ready.

"I'm not looking to do that," he said.

SEEKING C.J. ENERGY: Sloan is, however, still looking for more from starting small forward C.J. Miles, who shot just 2-of-6 from the field and had no rebounds while logging 16 minutes against the Celtics.

Miles has had no rebounds in two of Utah's last four games, despite repeated cries from Sloan for him to hit the boards harder.

"He seems to not have the energy to compete," Sloan said Tuesday. "It's hard for me to understand why, unless he's sick or hurt or something.

"Rebounding and defense is always there," the Jazz coach added. "That's not something that should be completely abandoned. I can understand missing shots, that sort of thing, but you have to work at some of the other stuff.