Utah Jazz: Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko not playing, Jerry Sloan's status still in doubt

SALT LAKE CITY — Neither starting center Mehmet Okur nor starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko will play when the Jazz face New Orleans tonight.

Okur exited Friday's loss at Phoenix due to an apparent stomach virus, and did not return.

Kirilenko won't play for a fourth time in five games due to a strained left calf.

C.J. Miles again will start in Kirilenko's place, and Kyrylo Fesenko will open in place of Okur.

Meanwhile, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan plans to be on the bench tonight because the NBA's investigation into his confrontation with referee Michael Smith on Friday remains open and ongoing.

Sloan was ejected after making contact with Smith in the final second of Friday's game, but suggested he was protecting himself after Smith got too close to him.

Sloan stood by that assertion prior to tonight's game.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com