Utah Jazz notebook: Jazz glad Harpring tries to do all he can

He played 17-plus minutes in each of two back-to-back games last weekend, including a memorable one in which he got under Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James' skin.

He recorded another 12 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

If Jazz coach Jerry Sloan had his way, though, gritty veteran forward Matt Harpring would be logging a lot more than that.

"I'd play him 48 minutes if he was ready to play and (it was known) that we weren't trying to damage him in any way," Sloan, whose club took Wednesday off from practice and does not play again until facing Oklahoma City on Friday, said a few nights back.

Instead, Sloan and the Jazz medical staff are careful about how they use a 32-year-old who has dealt with more injuries than many emergency-room doctors.

"When he steps out on the floor, he's going to play hard and work hard to get open and make guys have to guard him," Sloan said of Harpring, who's in his seventh season with the Jazz. "That's been a real plus for us. Now, the other side of it is, hopefully, he can stay healthy and continue to get better."

That established, the Jazz coach added, "He's done a good job trying to overcome the problems he's had."

A knee that's been surgically repaired three times.

An ankle that had bone spurs removed last offseason, only to be overcome by infection so severe there were days Harpring figured for sure his playing days were over.

The list goes on and on.

And Harpring — who according to injury-related clauses in his current contract will have the final $4 million of his $6.5 million salary for next season guaranteed after he appears in just two more games this season — keeps going and going, to the extent he can.

"I feel like I'm getting better," he said. "Some ups and downs. Some days are better than others, but that's what happens when you come back from injury."

KIND WORDS: San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich took time out from his postgame media session following Tuesday's win in Utah to offer some kind words for Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, who is recovering from recent diabetes-related surgery to amputate his lower legs.

Said Popovich, in part: "More important than the game, we want to express all the best to Larry Miller. He's going through a tough time ... and we wish him the best."