Boozer out several weeks with hairline fracture
The Jazz will be without their leading scorer and rebounder for the next several weeks, the team revealed Wednesday.
Starting power forward Carlos Boozer has a hairline fracture on the fibula head leading into his left knee, according to the results of an MRI exam taken Sunday.
"It's not as painful as it may sound," Boozer said Wednesday. "It's sore and throbs a little bit here and there, but not too bad."
Boozer was injured when he was bumped by Hornets center Tyson Chandler in the opening quarter of last Saturday's loss at Oklahoma City.
Initial X-rays taken Saturday were negative, but additional testing revealed the fracture.
The Jazz announced results of the finding only after Boozer sought a second medical opinion to confirm Jazz physician Dr. Lyle Mason's initial diagnosis.
According a statement released by the Jazz Wednesday, "Injuries of this nature typically take four to five weeks to fully heal."
Asked Wednesday if he would be able to play in the Feb. 18 NBA All-Star Game should he be selected as a Western Conference reserve Thursday, however, Boozer did not rule out that possibility.
"The good news is it's not as bad as it could have been, so I'm excited about that," Boozer said. "Depending on how it heals I could be back sooner."
Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said the team will look to make an acquisition to feel the void left by Boozer's absence, but that he did not anticipate anything happening sooner than Monday.
The Jazz play host to San Antonio tonight and their only other game before Monday comes Saturday at Phoenix.
