"Yeah, he's tough. He plays through anything, but it's an injury where there's nothing you can do about it," Deron Williams said. "You can't risk anything bad happening. So, guess we'd better sit him down right now; then we're going to need him for the rest of the season."

BOOZER L.A.-BOUND: Speaking of power forwards the Jazz need, Boozer missed his 19th game with a strained left quad and bruised kneecap. Instead of heading to Houston with the team, the two-time All-Star will travel to be evaluated by Dr. Richard Ferkel in Los Angeles for a third MRI on his left leg. For this special MRI, a dye will be injected into Boozer's knee joint to hopefully give doctors a better look at possible damage inside.

COLLINS IS BACK: Though he didn't play any minutes and hasn't practiced for a while, Jarron Collins rejoined the team and dressed for Friday's game — only to be used in case of emergency. He did so after having his inflamed right elbow, injured in an offseason golf-cart accident, evaluated by the team physician, Dr. Lyle Mason.

NOT BACK: Starting center Mehmet Okur missed his second straight game with lower-back spasms Friday. He also will not travel to Houston, and will receive an epidural to help reduce the pain he's feeling. Okur will be a game-time decision for Monday's home game against Philadelphia, depending on how his back responds to the epidural.

Matt Harpring, who's awaiting results of a second MRI on his surgically repaired right ankle from a doctor in North Carolina, was helped by getting an epidural shot for a lower-back injury earlier this season.

---

E-mail: jody@desnews.com