Okur doubtful; Harpring out on Monday

The impact may be more short-term than long, but the Jazz got a double dose of less-than-favorable medical news Saturday regarding starting center Mehmet Okur and backup small forward Matt Harpring.

An MRI exam performed on Okur's ailing left shoulder confirmed the original diagnosis of a strained trapezius muscle. Okur also has deep bruising in the shoulder, which he injured during a loss to Portland on Tuesday

Okur will accompany the Jazz when they leave today for a four-game trip that opens Monday night in Atlanta, but it's uncertain when he'll be able to play again.

"He's going to miss a little time," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I don't know how long that will be.

"We need him to come back, but we also need him to be healthy," Sloan added. "He has to judge that."

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said Saturday night that Okur was told he could return in as few as 48 hours, but that he also could be out another week.

O'Connor said it looked doubtful Okur will play Monday against the Hawks, but that he may be available for Wednesday's visit to Charlotte. The Jazz also play Friday at Orlando and Saturday at Miami.

"It depends on how my shoulder reacts," said Okur said when asked how much longer he expects to be out. He has missed three straight games, including Saturday's 96-75 win over Seattle.

Harpring, meanwhile, missed Saturday's game due to what the Jazz are calling "gastric distress."

He will not fly with the team to Atlanta, and instead will remain in Utah to undergo a gastric scope on Monday. Current plans call for him to join the team in Charlotte in time for Wednesday's game against the Bobcats.

Harpring took ill on the Jazz's charter flight from Portland to Salt Lake City late Friday night.

He apparently vomited and passed out in an airplane bathroom, prompting pilots to abort the plane's planned takeoff. He vomited a second time as well, and nearly passed out again.

"(Jazz trainer) Gary (Briggs) said he had had this happen before — whenever he gets sick, he throws up and passes out," Sloan said.

In mid-November, Harpring got ill on the team bus while in Toronto and missed a game against the Raptors. Last season, he missed four games due to a couple separate bouts with apparent stomach viruses — and both times wound up making a hospital visit for examination and to replenish fluids.

No hospitalization was required this time, a Jazz spokesman said Saturday.