Utah Jazz: Boozer's out for knee surgery

The Jazz expect All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer to be out for at least another month because of a decision to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee.

Los Angeles area-based orthopedic specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel will perform the operation, which the team said may not be performed until Jan. 9.

The procedure is being postponed until then, according to a statement from the team, because of an unhealed skin laceration that occurred during rehab and is located "very near the scope site."

Ferkel and Jazz orthopedist Dr. Lyle Mason agreed surgery was needed after Boozer underwent a third MRI exam Monday in L.A.

"What they're suspecting is that he's got some loose particles in there that are settling in the joint," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said Tuesday afternoon.

Boozer already has been out nearly six weeks.

He sustained a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap in a Nov. 19 home game against Milwaukee, and he has missed 21 straight games since, including Monday night's victory over Philadelphia.

A specific timetable for Boozer's anticipated continued absence will not be released until sometime after the surgery, though O'Connor said that even in a best-case scenario he thought it would be another month or so before the 27-year-old plays again.

"I'm leery to put a timeline on it because they (doctors) are not positive what it is," O'Connor said. "They're not convinced of where it is and what it is."

In any event, he added, "I don't think there would be any way he'd be back before a month."

The call for surgery was made by Ferkel and Mason, according to a team statement, only "after having tried to conservatively rehabilitate (Boozer's) left knee, which has not responded satisfactorily, and reviewing all of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test results."

O'Connor said both Monday's MRI and a second one taken earlier showed increased swelling when compared to the first one that was performed.

Boozer, who was not available for comment Tuesday, is expected to continue with cardiovascular and weight-training rehabilitation until the time of surgery.

O'Connor painted the Duke University product as being anxious to finally get the problem addressed.

"He was concerned," O'Connor said, "because every time he pushed himself to get to a place, it swelled up on him."