Jazz Loss Expensive

The abrupt end to the Utah Jazz season is costing franchise owner Larry H. Miller a few million dollars that could have helped pay off the Delta Center’s enormous debt.

In the four years since the Delta Center opened, Miller has paid off $12 million of the $66 million loan that financed the project.

The note is due in two years, however, and Miller likely will have to refinance.

“Success in the playoffs is what drives being able to pay down that debt,” Bob Hyde, chief financial officer for the Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment Group, said this week.

The Jazz were eliminated from the the first round of the NBA playoffs Sunday by the Houston Rockets, who topped the Jazz 3-2 in the series.

Cory Alexander, whose career at Virginia was marked first by promise and then by season-ending injuries, has applied for early entry to the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-1 junior point guard played 11 minutes in the 1993-94 season opener before he broke his ankle. He returned as a redshirt last season and broke the same ankle Feb. 8 against North Carolina State.

As a sophomore in 1992-93, Alexander averaged 18.8 points and 4.6 assists.

Kevin McHale, Minnesota’s assistant general manager, is expected Thursday to officially take over basketball operations of the Timberwolves.

The Charlotte Hornets expect this week to lose player personnel director Dave Twardzik to the Golden State Warriors, who has been offered the general manager’s job.