Jazzmen battling through injuries

SALT LAKE CITY -- As one injured Jazzman is close to making his season debut, another's pending return has been put on hold.

C.J. Miles has begun doing some light practice already and is scheduled to upgrade his activity even more this week. However, Kyle Korver said results of a recent Cybex test showed he isn't quite ready to return.

"It didn't go that well," he said. "I was like, 70 percent in my quad and 56 percent in my hamstring. I've just got to get more power in my leg before I can start doing court work."

Korver said a Cybex result of 75 percent would put an athlete on the fringe of being able to play.

Korver may benefit from Utah's upcoming schedule.

The Jazz will play host to the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, but aren't scheduled to play again until Friday, when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to Salt Lake City.

"This week I'm just going to lift weights and try to get stronger," he said. "It's kind of a nice break in the schedule, so I've got some time there to really put in some work."

Korver has yet to play this season and has repeatedly expressed frustration at not being able to get on the court.

He has already missed 16 games so far this season, by far the most of any stretch of his career.

Korver played in 465 of a possible 492 games during the first six years of his career. He had never missed more than eight games in a season.

"As soon as I feel strong enough and there's no pain, then I start practicing," he said. "But right now there's still quite a bit of pain."

Korver underwent surgery in New York on Oct. 28."

Of course Korver and Miles aren't the only banged-up members of the team.

And after Saturday's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah's injury picture looked even bleaker.

Andrei Kirilenko and Paul Millsap -- the Jazz's top two bench players -- each suffered injuries in the second quarter; neither returned after halftime.

Kirilenko (strained lower back) and Millsap (bruised left knee) will be gametime decisions for tonight.

The team practiced on Sunday. However, Kirilenko, Millsap, Korver and Ronnie Price (left big toe) all sat out. Miles' participation was limited.

Depending on what happens with Kirilenko and Millsap, the Jazz could have as few as eight players available for tonight's game.