Boozer targets mid-February return date

Power forward Carlos Boozer, the Jazz's leading scorer and rebounder, has a target for his return from arthroscopic knee surgery.

"I'd like to be back by All-Star," said Boozer, an NBA All-Star each of the past two seasons. "We'll see how the knee gets better, and we'll go from there."

This year's NBA All-Star Game is Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

The Jazz's last game before it is Feb. 11 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, and their first game after it is Feb. 17 against Memphis.

Boozer was injured in a Nov. 19 game against Milwaukee, and he

underwent surgery to remove loose particles from his left knee on

Jan. 9.

The Jazz announced the day after his surgery that Boozer would have a four-week rehab period, which would run through the first weekend in February.

But Boozer, speaking to reporters for the first time since he underwent surgery, was noncommittal about the four-week window when asked after today's morning shootaround if thought he'd be in game shape when his rehab is complete.

"Four, five six weeks — whatever it ends up being," he said.

If Boozer weren't available until a full six weeks from the time of surgery, he wouldn't be available to play again until Feb. 21 against New Orleans.

That also happens to be the Jazz's first game following the NBA's Feb. 19 trade deadline, and their first of the final 27 games of the season.

Boozer, who has played in just 12 games so far this season, said "surgery was fantastic, better than I thought it was gonna be."

"I'm walking pretty good," he said.

"Still trying to get a little bit of the swelling out, try(ing) to have more mobility, doing things to strengthen it right now," he added. "But I'm on the right path. It's going good."

The Jazz face Minnesota tonight at home with everyone on their 14-man roster except for Boozer available to play.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com