A bruised and swollen left knee kept John Crotty from playing at Sacramento on Thursday night, marking the third time in five games the Jazz's backup point guard has been unable to go.
     
Crotty did play Wednesday night vs. San Antonio, but the notion of two games in about 24 hours proved too much.
     
"I think it's just a matter of not enough recovery time," said Crotty, who was originally hurt when he banged his knee several games ago. "Back-to-back situations ? I just can't go on them."
     
The veteran guard missed two games, including one at San Antonio on the second night of a different back-to-back set, then returned to play two more before succumbing again.
     
Crotty said he will try to play as many games as he can between now and the Jazz's Feb. 6-11 NBA All-Star Game break. Utah plays six games before then, including one back-to-back set.
     
"The extended rest should help," he said.
     
With Crotty out, second-season shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson has been filling in as John Stockton's backup.