Utah Jazz: Deron Williams will start tonight; Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur still out

Published: Saturday, Feb. 5 2011 6:37 p.m. MST

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Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur will sit out Saturday night's game vs. Memphis.

Associated Press

Summary

Coming off his 26-point, 12-assist return performance Friday night, Deron Williams will play tonight when Utah hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder.

SALT LAKE CITY — Coming off his 26-point, 12-assist return performance Friday night, Deron Williams will play tonight when Utah hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But the Jazz will be without a couple of players yet again.

Usual starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko is officially out for the third game in a row with a sprained left ankle, and center Mehmet Okur will sit out his fifth consecutive contest due to his strained lower back.

Okur will not travel with the team to Sacramento.

Kirilenko, however, is hopeful that he'll be ready to play by Monday night when the Jazz play the Kings.

"I'm excited," he said.

Kirilenko tested his injury while running a bit earlier today, and he plans on playing for the first time in a practice scenario Sunday before the Jazz travel to Sacramento.

He said jumping causes him the most problem right now.

The Jazz tip off against the Thunder at 7 at EnergySolutions Arena. Both teams had to travel to Utah after Friday night games. The Jazz beat the Nuggets in Denver, 113-106, while OKC won at Phoenix, 111-107.

Utah (30-21) trails the Thunder (32-17) by three games in the Northwest Division standings. The teams have split their two games, with each winning on the other's court.

e-mail: jody@desnews.com

Twitter: DJJazzyJody

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