Flu bug bites Harpring — Powell wins D-League honor

He didn't go to the hospital this time, but Jazz small forward Matt Harpring said the flu-like symptoms he experienced Tuesday were just as intense as two bouts with the flu he had earlier this season.

"It wasn't for as long of a period, but, yeah," said Harpring, who missed practice Tuesday but still logged 14 minutes and scored eight points in Utah's regular season-ending win over Houston on Wednesday. "It was about a six-hour (ordeal)."

Harpring suggested he was nowhere near full-strength Wednesday.

"I felt like I threw up yesterday," he said.

The last two times Harpring dealt with similar symptoms — in December, and again in March — he went to a hospital to be treated for dehydration.

Both times, he also missed a pair of games.

HE SAID IT: Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, on Houston sitting stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming on Wednesday so they can rest for the playoffs: "I was at an owners' meeting years ago (in the 1980s), right after the end of the season where (NBA commissioner) David Stern fined (Los Angeles Lakers owner) Jerry Buss $25,000 because he left Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) and James Worthy and Magic (Johnson) out of (a) game at Kansas City. It was Game 82. It meant nothing. But (Lakers coach) Pat Riley admitted he left them out to rest them ... Stern will frown on (McGrady and Yao resting). His comment (about the Lakers) was, 'We ought to give the best basketball we can give them every night.' And I agree with that. It's ridiculous what it costs to watch these things."

POWELL LAUDED: When Utah and Houston begin their playoff series, three key members of the University of Illinois' 2005 NCAA title-game team — Jazz points guards Deron Williams and Dee Brown and Rockets guard Luther Head — will be reunited.

One who won't be part of the show is forward Roger Powell Jr., who was with Utah from the start of the season through early January until — much to Williams' and Brown's dismay — being waived so the Jazz wouldn't have to guarantee the remainder of his one-year rookie contract.

Powell, who appeared in three games for Utah, wound up finishing the season with D-League's Arkansas RimRockers.

Recently, the undrafted Powell was chosen by D-League coaches to receive the 2006-07 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, which goes to the player "who best represents the ideals of character and conduct on the court."

The honor resulted in a flood of kudos for Powell, who also is a licensed Pentecostal minister.