As a result, Boozer will sit out Tuesday night's exhibition opener against the Los Angeles Lakers with a strained left hamstring. Boozer originally felt the soreness after working out Sunday and underwent treatment Monday.
Boozer missed the first 49 games of the 2005-06 season with a left hamstring injury but the All-Star forward expressed little concern Monday.
"No, none at all," he said at the pregame shootaround. "Just taking it as a precaution and let the soreness get out of there and I'll be back in a couple of days I'm sure."
At the same time, Boozer acknowledged his history played a part in the decision: "I thought about it a little bit. That's why as a group we decided to sit down, let the inflammation go away, let it chill out and then get back at it."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan will take the opportunity to experiment with lineups. Paul Millsap will start in Boozer's place and be joined by C.J. Miles, with Andrei Kirilenko coming off the bench.
With Matt Harpring rehabbing after an ankle infection, Sloan said he wanted to bring Kirilenko off the bench as a veteran presence. It also gives Millsap and Miles the chance to play together, which they likely will do on the second unit in the regular season.
The rest also isn't likely to hurt Boozer, who played with USA Basketball this summer.
"I'm in great shape," Boozer said. "I'm looking forward to this season. I think we have a team that can do some great things. I'll be interested to watch how the guys perform tonight and get back out there with them as soon as I can."
