Memphis, Tenn. ? As he matched up against Darius Miles to start the second quarter Friday, Jarron Collins made no mention of the $18 million he knew it was costing the Portland Trail Blazers in salary-cap space the next two summers.
"I told him congratulations on getting back because I understand," Collins said. " Matt [ Harpring 's] been there. There are a few of us who've had knee injuries and injuries that threaten a career, and I understand how far he's come back." Still, one Jazz player couldn't help but pump his fist upon learning that Portland, the Jazz's Northwest Division rival, would have to count Miles' salary against the cap since the former No. 3 overall pick no longer is considered retired with a career-ending knee injury.
Counting his preseason action with Boston, Miles now has played in 10 games this season, four with Memphis. He finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes Friday. Miles last played with Portland in the 2005-06 season.
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C.J. Miles returns
C.J. Miles returned after missing three games with a sprained right ankle and finished with two points on 1-for-5 shooting in 19 minutes. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan pulled Miles in the third quarter after taking what he considered a questionable three-pointer.
Paul Millsap , meanwhile, missed his third game with a bruised right knee. Millsap said he tried to go through shootaround but "didn't make it" as his knee is still sore. He didn't rule out the possibility of playing tonight at Dallas.
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Center of attention
With Mehmet Okur in foul trouble, Collins played a season-high 16 minutes, finishing with two points, five rebounds and five fouls. Collins even hit a turnaround 11-footer as the Jazz set up for a final shot to close the third quarter.
"It was a situation where I was in perfect rhythm," said Collins, who hadn't hit a shot in six games all season before Friday.
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Mr. Freeze
The Utah Flash played a game Thursday in Bismarck, N.D., but it might as well have been Siberia since temperatures nose-dived to minus-44 degrees, the second-coldest day in the city's history.
"It's miserable," coach Brad Jones said. The Flash hung around their hotel all day, but players did have to walk across the street for meals. "It literally takes your breath away. You can't breathe it's so cold. Your chest freezes up."
The Flash lost 97-79 to the Dakota Wizards -- Kyrylo Fesenko posted eight points and 11 rebounds -- and Jones had one thought as the temperature climbed to minus-6: "Man, it's warming up. Now it's absolutely ludicrous I say that."
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Briefly
The Jazz will honor the Sugar Bowl champion Utah Utes football team before the second quarter of Tuesday's game against Minnesota. ? Ronnie Price didn't play after starting three games in Miles' absence.
rsiler@sltrib.com Jazz at Dallas
At American Airlines Center
Tipoff ? 7 p.m.
TV ? FSN Utah
Radio ? 1320 AM, 98.7 FM
Records ? Jazz 24-16, Dallas 22-17
Last meeting ? Jazz, 97-88 (Dec. 26)
Line: ? Mavericks by 2
About the Jazz ? Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki should be out for revenge after twice drawing one-game suspensions against the Jazz the last two seasons. The most recent came after Nowitzki was called for a flagrant foul for backhanding Matt Harpring in the face in the Jazz's victory Dec. 26. Nowitzki said of his suspension: "They let the boys play in Utah and let them play hard. Sometimes on the edge. And I just got to be ready to take more hits and play through it and not lose my head."
About the Mavericks ? Dallas is trying to snap a four-game losing streak that has dropped the Mavericks to ninth in the Western Conference and out of playoff position. ? Josh Howard has missed the last three games with a sprained left wrist and is doubtful to play tonight. ? Jason Kidd has gone 4-for-27 (14.8 percent) from the field the last three games. The Mavericks have been off for two days since losing 104-97 to New Orleans on Wednesday.
