AP source: Jazz G Alec Burks to have surgery on broken leg

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) A person familiar with the situation says Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks has chosen to have surgery to help accelerate the healing process from a broken left leg.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday night because the team had not announced the decision.

The surgery should allow Burks to place weight on his fibula after two weeks instead of four and begin rehabbing sooner than without surgery. The team originally said he would not have surgery.

Burks injured his leg during a fall Saturday.

Burks had played in every game this season, averaging a career-high 14.3 points as one of the few Jazz players on the bench who can create offense. He is the third-leading scorer on the team.

Burks is the third major contributor for the Jazz who has been lost for a significant amount of time this season. Starting center Rudy Gobert remains out with a sprained MCL. Starting point guard Dante Exum is out for the season with a torn ACL.