Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko will undergo surgery Friday to remove a bone fragment from his right ankle, Jazz GM Kevin O?Connor announced today.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. John Edwards at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

A report on the surgery and an estimated timeline for Kirilenko?s recovery will be provided following the procedure.

Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko received a third cortisone in his injured right ankle on Monday and will undergo surgery if he doesn't see improvement over the next few days.

"Let's not go there. Let's see how it feels right now," Kirilenko said of surgery. "If it doesn't help really, then we're going to think about surgery."

Kirilenko was hoping to put off surgery until the offseason, but the injury hasn't improved in recent weeks.

Utah Jazz GM Kevin O?Connor announced today that the team has recalled second-year center Kyrylo Fesenko from the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League). Fesenko is expected to be available tonight when the Jazz hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. at EnergySolutions Arena.

The 7-1, 300-pound Fesenko was originally assigned to the Flash on January 6 and appeared in eight D-League games (all starts), averaging 12.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 27.3 minutes per contest. In 10 appearances (one start) this season with the Jazz, Fesenko has averages of 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

Utah forward Andrei Kirilenko missed his third straight game on Sunday because of inflammation and irritation on a bone spot in his right foot.

He suffered from the same ailment in December, and was hoping to postpone surgery until the offseason.

"There is a possibility," Kirilenko said Sunday night about undergoing surgery now.

"We'll see ... but it doesn't feel any better," he said. "It just feels same way, you know. It feels sore. We'll see what the doctors say."

The Jazz were forced to stay overnight in Salt Lake City due to issues with their charter jet on Saturday.

They were scheduled to leave for Denver on Sunday morning.

Utah point guard Deron Williams has declined an invitation to defend his Skills Challenge championship at next month's All-Star weekend.

"They already asked me, but I need the rest," Williams said Friday. "I've got too many things hurting right now, so the rest will do me good. . . .

"I'd definitely like to do it. But I don't know if I'll make the [All-Star] game, and I didn't want to make the trip just to play in the Skills Challenge."

Jazz owner Larry H. Miller had his legs amputated six inches below the knee on Friday.

Team spokesman Jonathan Rinehart said the surgery was the result of complications from Type 2 diabetes.

"Larry is doing well and is expected to continue to recover in the coming weeks and months," Larry's son Greg said in a statement.

Miller was already using a wheelchair before the surgery.

Tuesday's schedule was a light one, and the action wasn't overly exciting, but there were still some highlight performances and eight teams in action.

- Atlanta 105, Chicago 102

Team FIC Differential: Hawks -13.6, Bulls +13.6

The Hawks (25-16) won a tight game against the Bulls (18-25), who simply refused to give up on Tuesday night. Mike Bibby led with 31 points and 6 assists, Josh Smith posted 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Joe Johnson contributed 13 points, 7 dimes and 5 boards. Chicago shot better and won the rebounding battle, but didn?t take very good care of the basketball. Ben Gordon scored 21 points, Joakim Noah tallied 9 points and 11 rebounds, and Kirk Hinrich added 13 points, 5 assists and 4 boards off the bench in defeat.

Game FIC Scores

Mike Bibby, Atlanta ? 23.8

Josh Smith, Atlanta ? 18.0

Luol Deng, Chicago ? 14.2

Ben Gordon, Chicago ? 13.2

- San Antonio 99, Indiana 81

Team FIC Differential: Spurs +43.3, Pacers -43.3

The Spurs (28-13) broke things open in the third quarter on their way to an easy win over the Pacers (15-27) at the AT&T Center. Tim Duncan starred with 27 points and 10 rebounds, Tony Parker posted 13 points and 7 assists, and Manu Ginobili turned in 26 points and 8 boards off the bench. San Antonio held Indiana to just 37% shooting and won the rebounding battle by twenty-one. Danny Granger had just 17 points on 5-for-15 shooting, Troy Murphy tallied 6 points and 10 rebounds, and Mike Dunleavy added 15 points in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio ? 25.9

Tim Duncan, San Antonio ? 21.0

Troy Murphy, Indiana ? 7.2

Mike Dunleavy, Indiana ? 6.1

- Denver 118, Sacramento 99

Team FIC Differential: Nuggets +47.7, Kings -47.7

The Nuggets (28-15) took a lead in the second quarter and never looked back against the Kings (10-32) on Tuesday night. Chauncey Billups had 22 points and 7 assists, Linas Kleiza tallied 27 points and 6 rebounds off the bench, and Nene added 13 points and 12 boards in the win. Denver shot a blistering 56% and outrebounded Sacramento by eight. Kevin Martin led with 25 points, rookie Jason Thompson posted 16 points and 8 rebounds, and Bobby Jackson added 15 points and 4 boards in a reserve role for the Kings.

Game FIC Scores

Chauncey Billups, Denver ? 19.4

J.R. Smith, Denver ? 17.5

John Salmons, Sacramento ? 13.2

Kevin Martin, Sacramento ? 12.0

- Utah 112, Minnesota 107

Team FIC Differential: Jazz +21.1, Timberwolves -21.1

The Jazz (25-17) withstood a furious charge at the end of the fourth quarter to defeat the Timberwolves (13-27) at Energy Solutions Arena. Paul Millsap starred with 28 points and 15 rebounds, Deron Williams posted 17 points and 11 assists, Mehmet Okur poured in 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Minnesota shot 51%, but turned the ball over seventeen times and were whistled for thirteen more fouls. Al Jefferson led with 25 points and 8 rebounds, Kevin Love tallied 12 points and 8 boards, and Sebastian Telfair contributed 17 points and 9 assists in the loss.

Game FIC Scores

Paul Millsap, Utah ? 26.5

Mehmet Okur, Utah ? 15.9

Sebastian Telfair, Minnesota ? 14.9

Mike Miller, Minnesota ? 12.0

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.?
Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

Utah's Deron Williams joked on Monday that he believes coach Jerry Sloan will still be coaching the Jazz when the point guard retires.

"I told ya," Williams said, "I'm going to retire before he retires."

News broke recently that Sloan has agreed to return as the team's coach for the 2009-10 season. Sloan will be 68 when his contract expires in the summer of 2010.

"He still has a passion for it. Why not?" Williams said

The Utah Jazz announced today the decision by Jerry Sloan to return as head coach for the 2009-10 season, which will mark his 22nd season at the helm of the Jazz.

?We have been blessed as an organization that Jerry Sloan has been with us as long as he has.  Jerry is the standard for hard work and consistency,? said Greg Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies.  ?Jerry has brought a level of credibility to the Utah Jazz that nobody else could.  I am excited that we'll have Jerry with us through 2010.?

Sloan has been Utah?s head coach since assuming the reigns from former head coach Frank Layden on December 9, 1988.  Sloan is listed as fourth in most wins as a coach in NBA history (1113-734), Sloan is the longest tenured active coach with one team in major professional sports and is also the longest tenured head coach in NBA history.  Earlier this season Sloan (1019-613 with Jazz) became the first NBA head coach to win 1,000 games with one team, and currently ranks 224 victories ahead of Red Auerbach (second in all-time wins with one team) and 360 wins ahead of San Antonio?s Gregg Popovich (third all-time), the only other active coach in the top five.