Jazz's Boozer Aiming For Thursday Return

By WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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Utah Jazz All-Star forward Carlos Boozer has missed 10 straight games with a strained left quadriceps tendon, but he expects to return to the court this week, hopefully by Thursday, he says.

Boozer has been running, plus doing strengthening exercises for his knee, and said he could return either Tuesday at Minnesota or Thursday against Portland, although at practice Monday he made it sound like Tuesday isn’t very realistic.

“Probably not (Tuesday), but I’m hoping for Thursday maybe,” he said. “Or if not that, then the next game after that. We’ll see how strong it gets over the next few days.”

Boozer said he is not yet running at full speed. He is wearing a brace on his knee and might have to do so in games. Boozer will travel to Minnesota, though he’ll officially be listed as “doubtful.” Bet on the game at WagerWeb.com.

“I’m going to go there so I can be with the fellows and be with my team,” he said.



Boozer might have to get back soon just to keep his job, as Paul Millsap has been outstanding with eight consecutive double-doubles. Millsap is averaging 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a block per game in eight starts.

“We’ve been doing a good job holding it down without me,” said Boozer, who originally suffered the injury Nov. 19, “and hopefully when I get back, we’ll be a lot deeper and be able to run the table a little bit.”

Millsap said he would try to bring energy off the bench and “just continue to be doing what I’ve been doing to get me this far.”

Without Boozer, and centers Jarron Collins (inflamed right elbow) and Kyrylo Fesenko (strained lower back), the Jazz already have missed 69 man games - 24 more than all of last season. Backup point guard Brevin Knight will be a game-time decision for Tuesday after getting hit in the windpipe in Saturday’s loss to Phoenix.

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