Jazz trainer Gary Briggs resorted to complicated medical jargon to describe Carlos Boozer's condition: "It's one step forward," Briggs said, "and two steps back."

Just hours after Boozer spoke with conviction and excitement Monday about progress in his recovery from a lingering hamstring strain, the Jazz forward reinjured his left leg again. So forget about Boozer practicing with the team this week, and stop daydreaming about a dramatic return to the lineup this weekend. It's as if the last couple of weeks never happened.

"It's very similar to the tweak" Boozer suffered on Oct. 31, Briggs said.

Boozer skipped the Jazz's trip to Sacramento in order to have an MRI done on his left hamstring. The test showed what the Jazz already knew, Briggs said: The hamstring still hasn't healed.

"We had some other people look at the test," Briggs said. "I'd say we're back to square one."