The Jazz had a communication breakdown with Carlos Boozer that left general manager Kevin O'Connor waiting more than 24 hours for word from the doctor in Los Angeles who operated on Boozer's left knee Friday.
Boozer underwent arthroscopic surgery to have loose particles removed from the knee. The team announced Saturday that Boozer will miss another four weeks as part of a rehabilitation program and will be reevaluated after that.
"It was consistent with what they thought," O'Connor said of removing the particles. The Jazz said Boozer's knee was otherwise sound.
Boozer has missed 25 games since he was injured Nov. 19.
Earlier at the pregame shootaround, O'Connor could not hide his aggravation at not having heard from Dr. Richard Ferkel . "It's surprising that we haven't heard anything, but we have not heard anything," O'Connor said.
Ferkel did speak with Jazz trainer Gary Briggs in the afternoon. "That's part of the problem with being somewhere outside of the Great Salt Lake," O'Connor said at shootaround.
Boozer will remain in Los Angeles to be evaluated next week, but the Jazz are expecting him to return to Utah to rehab.
"We want to get him here as soon as we can and have him rehab and be with the team," O'Connor said.
Given the timetable, two Jazz players privately said they didn't expect Boozer to return until after next month's All-Star break.
Miles better
C.J. Miles sat out Saturday's game, but reported the swelling in his sprained right ankle was almost gone and the soreness had diminished as well.
"I'm glad to be out of that [walking] boot for one thing; I know that much," Miles said.
Miles, who was injured in Wednesday's victory over New Orleans, was hopeful he could play Monday against Indiana. "I'm glad I'm walking and there's nothing broken, there's nothing too serious, when I can be back in a few days," Miles said.
He considered going through shootaround Saturday, but was talked out of the idea by Deron Williams , who came back too soon from a sprained ankle earlier this season.
"He was like, 'Don't do it. … I know,' " Miles said.
Price is right
With Miles missing his first game of the season, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan changed his mind and opted to start Ronnie Price instead of Morris Almond . Sloan said he preferred Price's experience when it came to guarding Allen Iverson .
Price had played only six minutes in six games before Saturday, but finished with seven points, six rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes against Detroit. Most significantly, he helped slow Iverson despite picking up two first-quarter fouls.
Iverson came into the game with a career scoring average of 27.4 points but managed only 11 Saturday. Iverson scored 38 against the Jazz in a double-overtime loss last month.
