"It just flared up a little bit, but it's fine now, getting better,'' Boozer said, adding, "It'd been there a little bit for a couple of weeks, but it caught up to me a little bit."
Boozer skipped a team autograph signing Wednesday night to undergo treatment on his back. He has gone through various rounds of electric stimulation, ice and heat.
Andrei Kirilenko was sent home from practice with flu-like symptoms (he said one of his kids was also sick) but traveled with the team and will be a game-time decision.
Standing pat
As expected, the Jazz did not make a move at Thursday's trade deadline, with general manager Kevin O'Connor unable to acquire either the backup big man or extra shooter he wanted.
O'Connor said the team was active, but wouldn't comment on whether the Jazz were close to a deal. He said some talks ended with a feeling of "pushing a square peg into a round hole."
The Jazz were the first Western Conference contender to make a trade this season, acquiring Kyle Korver from Philadelphia for Gordan Giricek and a future first-round draft pick. The Jazz are 19-3 since Korver's arrival in December.
"I think we have a team that can compete for it,'' Boozer said, "and I'm looking forward to see how the West is going to be won."
Center of attention
Given that he was looking for a shot-blocking center at the deadline, O'Connor was asked whether rookie center Kyrylo Fesenko might play a more important role going forward.
Fesenko has been on assignment with the NBA Development League's Utah Flash since Dec. 27, averaging 10.2 points and 7.1 rebounds.
"Fes becomes valuable if he proves he's an NBA player,'' O'Connor said. "That's why he's in the D-League, that's why we drafted him the second round. He has to prove that."
rsiler@sltrib.com
Jazz at Clippers
Where: Staples Center
Tipoff: Today, 8:30 p.m.
TV: KJZZ
Radio: 1320 AM, 98.7 FM
Records: Jazz 35-19; Clippers 18-33
Last meeting: Jazz, 109-93 (Jan. 21)
Line: Jazz by 4 1/2
About the Jazz: They have won 13 of 14 games, a run that started with home-and-away victories last month over the Clippers. Seven players scored in double figures in each of those games. . . . Jason Hart started with the Clippers last season but is now the Jazz's No. 3 point guard.
About the Clippers: The Clippers went 3-4 on a seven-game trip before the All-Star break and beat Memphis 100-86 on Wednesday. . . . Corey Maggette is averaging 26.1 points this month and Sam Cassell stayed with the Clippers at the trade deadline.
