If he opts for an operation to clean out the joint and/or reattach whatever may be torn, Collins would be out a minimum of eight weeks. If he passes on the surgery and decides to simply rest instead, the timetable for his absence is four to six weeks.

"Right now," Collins said Tuesday, "I'm just trying to gather information to try to make the decision that's best for me, to get me back out on the court.

"It's a tough decision," he added, "because either way I'm going to miss some time."

Collins -- who has been diagnosed with bursitis in the elbow and related triceps tendinitis -- has appeared in only two games and logged just 16 minutes for the Jazz this season.

He's missed the team's last four games.

Collins, who is in his eighth season with the Jazz, initially bruised the elbow during an offseason golf-cart accident that also injured his twin brother, Jason Collins of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Other injury updates:

All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer, who has missed the Jazz's last three games due to a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap, did not practice Tuesday. A team spokesman said he is improving but is doubtful for tonight. ... Reserve point guard Brevin Knight, who sprained his left index finger in Monday's loss to Chicago, didn't practice Tuesday and also is listed as doubtful for tonight. ... Reserve forward Matt Harpring was not at practice Tuesday due to back spasms that struck during pre-game warmups Monday; he visited a doctor for treatment instead, and is doubtful as well for tonight. ... Backup shooting guard Kyle Korver, who has missed three games because of a re-sprained right shooting wrist, didn't practice Tuesday, either; he also was said to be improving, and will be a game-time decision tonight.

GREAT IN '08: Before Monday's 101-100 loss to the Bulls at the buzzer, the Jazz hadn't suffered a regular-season defeat at EnergySolutions Arena since falling to the Lakers 106-95 on March 20. Those are the Jazz's only two non-playoff home losses this calendar year, dropping their record in Utah to 32-2 in 2008.

Even as dominant as they've been at the ESA, it was the way they lost in front of their home fans -- on a long, last-second jumper by Larry Hughes -- that stung the Jazz more than the location.

"I'm not shocked to lose at home," said Jazz starting small forward C.J. Miles. "I'm shocked to lose that game, period, because we should have won it."

BOUNCING BACK: The Chicago loss was, no doubt, a painful one for the shorthanded Jazz, who rallied twice before falling in heartbreaking fashion.

But in the locker room, Mehmet Okur and Brevin Knight talked about the NBA season being like a marathon. No time to dwell on disappointment.

Ronnie Price continued that theme at practice Tuesday, saying pros can't get caught up in one loss in a season that includes about 100 games with the preseason and playoffs.

"The way we took the 'L' last night was tough to swallow ... to have it end that way, yeah, it's tough," he said. "But we've got another game (today). That's the great thing about this league -- you've got another game coming up."

COUNTDOWN CHAOS: Due to a technical glitch with the shot clock and scoreboard, P.A. announcer Dan Roberts had to help players by counting down the time in Monday's game. Miles admitted the malfunctioning shot clock was weird to get used to at first Monday.

Miles even said he hurriedly hucked up a 3-pointer when he misheard the time. He thought he heard a "three," so he lofted up a long shot that missed. Then while midair, Miles thought he heard a "nine" but it was too late to pass.

Miles might have heard five, but Roberts only announced "15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1" in the first half. Clocks were placed in two corners on the court, so no more vocal time-keeping was needed after halftime. (Hallelujah.)

"Sometimes it's hard to be focusing on what the announcer's saying when you're playing," Miles said. "But it's something you've got to pick up on. After a couple of trips, it was nothing."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan grumbled when asked if the shot-clock snarl-up caused either team to force up shots.

"If you're going to worry about that," he said, "that's a terrible excuse in my opinion." E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com jody@desnews.com