Jazz (17-12, 7-8 road) @ Bucks (13-16, 7-4 home)

Gametime: 7:00 p.m. central time

Injuries:

Jazz: Carlos Boozer (quadriceps) and Jarron Collins (elbow) are out.  Deron Williams (calf) is probable.

Bucks: Malik Allen (ribs) is questionable.

08/09 Series:

Nov : @Jazz 105, Bucks 94

08/09 Advanced Stats:

Jazz: Offense: 8th (108.2 points/100 possessions) Defense: 11th (104.7)  Pace: 14th (92.0)

Bucks: Offense: 21st (104.5 points/100 possessions) Defense: 8th (104.4) Pace: 12th  (92.5)

Three points:

• Bogut's back. Unfortunately that's a reference to the big fella's body, not his metaphorical return to prominence.  As detailed on his blog, Bogut is once again playing with pain after waking up sore in Philadelphia:

  Once we got to shoot around I started to stretch as I usually do when I get tight from a hotel bed or what not, but it did nothing. I ended up taking some pills for it to relieve the pain and tried to lie down the whole afternoon before the game once we were done with shoot around. End s up a couple of my vertebrae got stuck, and still are as I’m writing this. This basically tightens up all the muscles in your lower back, gluteus and hip, which is what I’m experiencing. I cannot stand it, I feel like I’m 100 years old at the moment. I’ve been getting treatment for it every day, mainly Chiropractic. I was lucky enough to be able to play through the last 3 games with it, mainly because our trainers did a great job of getting me warm and loose enough to go out there and perform, oh along with some sort of magic pain pill which works wonders. The only problem is waking up the next morning and needing a wheel chair for the first hour or two.

• Millsap vs. Boozer.  There's all sorts of speculation lately in Utah about the future of all-star Carlos Boozer, who has been out since tearing a quad muscle against the Bucks on November 19.  Boozer's been long-rumored to have a move to Miami on his mind, and said last week he will opt out of his $12.3 million option for 09/10 to become a free agent this summer.  Or maybe he didn't actually say it.  Either way, the Jazz will need to decide soon whether to deal Boozer and commit to soon-to-be-RFA Paul Millsap, who's done just about everything since stepping in as Boozer's replacement and is due a hefty raise next summer from the 800 grand he's currently pulling in.  As a starter Millsap is putting up 18.3 ppg and 11.3 rpg on .565 shooting from the field.  Oh, and he's notched 15 straight double-doubles.  Yeah, he could be popular next summer.
• D-Will.  The Bucks couldn't take advantage of Deron Williams' absence when the teams met last month in Utah, but they won't have that luxury this time around.  Williams sat out Monday's practice with a calf injury but is expected to start in Milwaukee tonight.  Having struggled through a nagging ankle injury, Williams hasn't put up the monster numbers we're used to seeing from him thus far.  But you know you're good when 14.3 ppg and 9.8 apg is considered a disappointment.

Coverage:

Bucks.comm / SLC Dunk / True Blue Jazz / All That Jazz