Utah Jazz: Okur, Kirilenko to miss game vs. Hornets

NEW ORLEANS — Starting center Mehmet Okur and usual starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko both will sit out and backup power forward Paul Millsap will start when the Jazz visit New Orleans tonight.

Kirilenko, as suspected, will miss his 13th game among Utah's last 15 due to his strained left calf.

Okur exited Wednesday night's loss at Houston in the third quarter due to tendinitis in his left Achilles. He shot free throws and walked through the Jazz's shootaround here this morning, but that's about all.

"Without running, without jumping — it feels better," Okur said.

That's not nearly enough, though, to be able to go tonight.

Okur did, however, say he hopes to play in one or both of the Jazz's two final regular season games next week, at Golden State and at home against Phoenix.

Backup center Kyrylo Fesenko, who missed the Jazz's last two games with a sore throat, took part in the shootaround and will dress tonight.

But Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said that instead of Fesenko he'll open with Millsap alongside power forward Carlos Boozer.

The decision weakens Utah's bench, but Sloan feels that's his best option.

"Fez hasn't been on the floor for five or six days . . . so I don't know where he is," Sloan said. "We'll just have to wait and see, so I'm starting Paul and will try to make up the minutes with the other guys."

Backup C.J. Miles will start in Kirilenko's place at small forward, as he has since Kirilenko has been out with his injury.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com