"This is the [seventh] day and it's getting a lot better," Boozer said, "so we'll just keep going on the path we're going down and rehabbing it and taking care of it and strengthening it, and it's doing good."

Since the injury a week ago, Boozer has missed four games, the latest coming Wednesday against Memphis. The cast he had been wearing has been replaced by a brace, which Boozer described as "awesome."

Asked how close he is to playing, Boozer answered, "Not very close. I don't know how many days away. As soon as the pain goes away, I'll be back out there." He was hopeful about returning next week, but didn't want to engage in "wishful thinking."

"The pain really comes from just trying to walk too fast or put all of my weight on it in a fast motion," Boozer said.

With Deron Williams returning Wednesday, Boozer acknowledged that Williams had been "frustrated" by his slow recovery from a sprained left ankle. "We're going to need him to win a couple of these games while I'm out," Boozer added.

No double trouble

To avoid any setbacks in his return, Williams expects to sit out at least one game when the Jazz play a set of back-to-back games, which they will do three times the next two weeks.

"I said that two weeks ago when I came back, but my ankle's so much stronger and so further along than it was back then, so we'll just have to see how it goes," Williams said.

Rest stop

When he skidded and flipped a golf cart this summer, Jarron Collins never could have guessed the seriousness of the right elbow injury he suffered, one that now will keep him out until January at the earliest.

Collins has decided not to undergo surgery, which would keep him out a minimum of two months, in the hopes that rest alone will be enough for his elbow to heal. That is no guarantee, however, and Collins will not play or practice for five weeks.

"I'm in a tough position," Collins said, "but I realize this is for the best and this is what I have to do to give myself the best chance to be out there on the court."

Collins has played in only two games and is suffering from bursitis, a bone bruise and fraying of his triceps tendon. "It's just a matter of just knowing that if I were to go back out there, the chances of me reaggravating it are pretty high," he said.

Collins' absence will create opportunities for young centers Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko. Collins said he will stay in Utah while he is rehabbing.

Injury report

Although he originally was ruled out of the game, Matt Harpring warmed up and was in uniform despite back soreness. "I know that it feels better than it did before the last game when I couldn't even move," Harpring said. "I can touch my toes and I can move around the court a little bit."

Kyle Korver (sprained right wrist) and Brevin Knight (sprained left index finger) both missed the game. Korver took some shots and said his wrist was improving, but he is cautious about returning until it is completely healed.

Knight isn't likely to return until next week.

"I've been doing everything left-handed," Korver added. "My signature's getting better, my left-handed free throw's getting all right, and I've been eating left-handed and I feel pretty good about it."

Briefly

The Jazz only lost 42 games due to injury or illness all last season, a total they officially surpassed (45) with Wednesday's game. . . . With the Jazz playing three games in four nights, coach Jerry Sloan decided against a Thanksgiving practice.

rsiler@sltrib.com