Okur, Williams in All-Star hunt

The All-Star Game hopes of Jazz big man Mehmet Okur and point guard Deron Williams live on at least another day.

Phoenix point guard and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash on Monday bowed out of Sunday's game in Las Vegas, citing lingering shoulder soreness as his reason for joining injured Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer (who remains out with a hairline fracture in the fibula head leading into his left knee) and Houston center Yao Ming on the sideline.

That means NBA commissioner David Stern — who earlier named small forwards Carmelo Anthony of Denver and Josh Howard of Dallas to fill in for Boozer and Yao — must name yet another Western Conference replacement player.

It's believed both Okur and Williams will receive strong consideration from the commissioner, along with Seattle shooting guard Ray Allen, Los Angeles Clippers power forward Elton Brand and Portland power forward Zach Randolph, among others.

The decision could come as early as today.

"I think we both deserve it," Okur, who went into Monday's game against Atlanta averaging a career-high 18.1 points per game, said of he and Williams, who is second on the list of NBA assists leaders this season behind Nash. "You know ... we're having a great year."

The Jazz started Monday with the third-best record in the NBA at 33-17, trailing only Dallas, which will be represented in Las Vegas by both Howard and Dirk Nowitzki, and Phoenix, whose All-Stars in addition to Nash are Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.

But with Boozer out, Utah — unless either Okur or Williams is tapped for what would be their first All-Star appearance — would not have a participating representative on floor Sunday.

Both Jazz players remained hopeful Monday.

"It would be a great honor," said Okur, a member of Turkey's 2004 Olympic team. "Definitely, if it happens, my dream come true."

"It definitely would be an honor to go," added Williams, who is in his second NBA season after leading to the University of Illinois to the 2005 NCAA title game. "Just to play with those guys would be like a dream come true."

Williams, though, is counting on nothing.

"I'm not worried about that right now," he said before Monday's game. "It's been a long process, and a lot of people thought I had a chance (when Western Conference reserves were named). But I never got my hopes up too high."