SALT LAKE CITY -- It's official: Matt Harpring isn't coming back this season.
The veteran Jazz forward announced Thursday he will not play during the 2009-10 season, due to the residual effects of several surgeries on his knees and ankles.
Harpring, in the final year of his contract with the Jazz, did not report to training camp and did not appear in any of Utah's first 17 games this season. He has not officially retired, but definitely has ruled out playing this season.
Following Friday morning's shoot-around, Jazz point guard Deron Williams admitted he wasn't shocked to hear the news.
"We kind of all expected that, in talking to Matt," Deron Williams said. "I knew he was trying to come back, but his body wasn't where it needed to be to play."
Harpring's main role with Utah was to provide toughness and an aggressive mentality off the bench.
"We definitely miss that," Williams said. "Talk to a number of guys around the league and they (hated) playing us for the simple fact they had to go up against Matt Harpring."
GAME 18 JAZZ 96, PACERS 87
* BEST PLAY: With 4:26 left in the first quarter, Deron Williams snares a pass on the defensive end and starts the break. He leaves a pass for Ronnie Brewer, who is trailing the play. Brewer throws down a ferocious dunk to put the Jazz ahead 22-3.
* BEST LINE: Carlos Boozer notches another double-double with a season-high 35 points and 13 rebounds.
* OLD LOOK, GOOD LOOK: Swingman C.J. Miles made his season debut on Friday and was happy to do it wearing Utah's new throwback uniforms.
"That just adds a little more to it, being able to (wear the vintage-looking green jersey)," Miles said. "Everybody's excited. It's just something fun and I know the fans love it, too."
HISTORY LESSON: Today marks the ninth anniversary of the night Jazz great Karl Malone moved past Wilt Chamberlain and into second place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. The Mailman scored 31 points in Utah's 98-84 win over Toronto, giving him 31,443 career points, 24 more than Chamberlain's 31,419 points.
* INJURY REPORT: Kyle Korver (left knee) and Ronnie Price (left big toe) missed the game for the Jazz. ... Travis Diener (left big toe) and Josh McRoberts (right big toe) missed for Indiana.
* ETC.: Boozer checks out of the game late in the fourth quarter with 12 points and seven rebounds. He receives his loudest cheers of the season, even though the Jazz crowd was quite light in the early going. ... Friday night's attendance was 19,347, not quite a sellout. ... Brewer went 1-for-9 from the field, but had six rebounds and six steals on the defensive end.
* UP NEXT: Tonight, the Jazz will play their first road game since visiting San Antonio on Nov. 19. They will play at Minnesota, then return to play host to the Spurs Monday at EnergySolutions Arena.
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