Minneapolis ? Carlos Boozer was back riding a stationary bike before practice Tuesday, but only for old time's sake after reporting no problems with his left knee following Monday's return.
Boozer played 21 minutes in his first game back after missing 44 games and undergoing surgery. He finished with two points and five rebounds and estimated it would take two weeks to get up to speed after three months away. "It's not a sprint. This is a marathon," Boozer said. "I want to get back and be back for the rest of the year and not just to come out and play 40 minutes last night just to prove I could do it.
"I've got to get my rhythm back, get my conditioning back, work myself back into it. Coach did the right thing: He played me enough where I needed to feel comfortable and not too much where my knee would get bothered by it."
Boozer said he would play both games of this weekend's back-to-back set. He returned Monday with neither a brace nor a sleeve on his knee.
"I don't want to," Boozer said. "I don't think I need it. My leg feels strong enough without it. We had talked about it a couple times with [trainer Gary Briggs]. I just felt like I'd rather play without it -- without a knee brace, without anything -- if I feel comfortable doing it."
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Injury report
The Jazz were at full strength for Monday's victory over Atlanta, but not for practice Tuesday. Andrei Kirilenko underwent a neurological check after injuring his back, but the Jazz said Kirilenko was fine and would travel to Minnesota.
Matt Harpring sat out practice after suffering a bruised back and bruised elbow thanks to Josh Smith's flagrant foul in the second quarter Monday. Harpring is probable to play.
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Favorable schedule
The last two months, the Jazz have beaten New Orleans (twice), Detroit, Indiana, Dallas and the L.A. Lakers. All six victories have come with the visiting team arriving in Utah to play the second game of a back-to-back set, as Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has noticed.
"We've probably caught more teams coming in here off of back-to-backs than any time since I've been here," Sloan said. "You get a false sense of satisfaction having those things happen. When you play four games in five nights, we'll see who we are."
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Briefly
Deron Williams had no problem playing only 28 minutes Monday, sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the blowout. "I was happy we didn't let it get back down to 15 so coach didn't have to call my name," Williams said, adding, "It definitely helps."
rsiler@sltrib.com Jazz at Minnesota
At Target Center, Minneapolis
Time ? 6 p.m.
TV/Radio ? FSN Utah, 1320 AM, 98.7 FM
Records ? Jazz 34-23, Minnesota 18-38
Last meeting ? Jazz won 112-107 (Jan. 20)
Line ? Jazz by XX
About the Jazz ? Mehmet Okur has been clutch late against the Timberwolves this season. Okur hit a go-ahead jumper with 1.7 seconds left in the Jazz's Dec. 9 victory followed by two late three-pointers in last month's win. Okur is coming off one of his quietest games of the season, with six points and points rebounds Monday.
About the Timberwolves ? Minnesota has lost six consecutive home games, the fifth-longest skid in franchise history. The Timberwolves are one of only four teams with a worse winning percentage at home (8-19) than on the road (10-19). Kevin McHale is 14-23 since replacing Randy Wittman as coach in December. Kevin Love is averaging 12.2 points and 10.3 rebounds since Jan. 1. Minnesota acquired Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown from Sacramento at the trade deadline.
