Marc Stein of ESPN has learned that Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko could miss up to a month with a sprained MCL in his right knee and is expected to be placed on the injured list Tuesday.

Kirilenko, off to a strong start through 14 games, was injured Saturday when Spurs guard Beno Udrih fell backward into Kirilenko's right knee.

The fourth-year veteran from Moscow is averaging 14.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 blocks this season.

Utah will be without their leader Andrei Kirilenko for at least the next week to ten days after Kirklenko suffered a sprained knee early in the second quarter of Utah's loss to the Spurs.

According to Phil Miller of the Salt Lake Tribune Kirilenko was standing near the left side of the lane with 9:08 to go in the second quarter when Howard Eisley drove toward him. Eisley collided with defender Beno Udrih, and the Spurs rookie bounced backwards, into Kirilenko. The contact bent Kirilenko's right leg from the side, and he crumpled to the ground.

"I don't think it's so [bad], but might take some time," said Kirilenko, who was hobbling around with a crutch after the game. "Feels like unstable walking side-to-side, but straight is not bad. I don't feel anything like hurting."

"I want you all to take pride in it because you all had something to do with it," John Stockton told the fans in Utah during his number retirement ceremony. "I felt welcome every day I played out here. This is home."

"You don't do the things that I'm getting credit for without teammates, terrific coaches, terrific organization, fans that come and support you. All of those things," Stockton said during a pregame news conference. "To put it up there for myself just is wrong."

Jerry Sloan, who took over for Frank Layden 17 years ago and has held the job ever since, was terribly emotional as he thanked Stockton.

"He set a terrific standard here with this organization. With his attitude, with his approach to practice. Every single day," Sloan said, "he was going to be the best he could be."

Stockton's number is the fifth to be retired, putting him in the rafters with Pete Maravich (7), Darrell Griffith (35), Eaton (53) and Hornacek. A No. 32 is sure to be lifted when Malone retires.

Is it possible that the most entertaining game of the night was in Miami and not Detroit?

In an overtime game, the Miami Heat defeated the Utah Jazz, two of the best teams in the NBA, and a possible Finals preview.

Wade delivered both a victory and the best performance of his young career. He capped a career-high 39-point night with a jumper over Raja Bell at the overtime buzzer, giving the Miami Heat a 107-105 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

Wade had 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, plus hit two free throws with 1 second left in regulation just to get Miami into the extra session.

"I always go through a stretch where I play bad, and I go through a stretch where I play good," Wade said. "That's the difference between this year and last year. Now I know it's going to happen like that, so I continue to stay focused. My team needs me down the stretch to make plays."

The Utah Jazz activated point guard Carlos Arroyo from the injured list Tuesday and placed rookie Kris Humphries on it because of tendinitis in his knee.

Arroyo sat out the first six games after spraining his left ankle Oct. 28 in Utah's final preseason game. Arroyo averaged 12.6 points and five assists in his first season as a starter.

Humphries, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2004 draft, has one point and no rebounds over eight minutes this season.

Utah Jazz Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O?Connor announced this morning that the team has signed former Jazz guard Howard Eisley.

The 6-2 guard spent last season with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, where he combined to play in 67 games, averaging 6.9 points and 4.0 assists.  He began the 2003-04 Season with New York, but traded to Phoenix on January 5, 2004 in the deal that sent Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway to New York.

He played for the Jazz from 1995 to 2000, where he saw action in 361 games, scoring 6.5 points and 3.4 assists.  He played in 79 career playoff games for Utah, including both seasons the team played in the NBA finals vs. the Chicago Bulls.

Eisley is expected to be in uniform for the game tonight vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and will wear number 6.

The Utah Jazz have picked up the contract options on guard Raul Lopez and centre Curtis Borchardt for the 2005-06 season.

Under terms of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Lopez will receive almost a 75 per cent pay raise and earn about $1.8 million next season. Borchardt's pay will increase to nearly $2 million.

Lopez, the 24th overall pick in 2001, averaged 7.0 points and 3.7 assists in 82 games last season, his first as a pro.

Borchardt appeared in just 16 contests 2003-04 due to broken bones in his foot and wrist. He averaged only 3.6 points and grabbed 3.4 boards per game.