Utah Jazz: Okur feeling better, expects to return to action tonight

Jazz center Mehmet Okur pedaled a stationary bike prior to practice and made it through the session without any problems Monday, marking his return from a stomach virus that caused him to miss three straight games.

"I'm feeling better now," said Okur, who plans to play when the Jazz face Oklahoma City Tuesday night.

Okur said he "started to feel a little bit weird" after returning to Utah following a four-game Eastern road trip earlier this month, and it caught up with him a few hours prior to the Jazz's Wednesday win over Toronto.

"I felt good," he said, "and all of a sudden I went home after shootaround (Wednesday) and it got worse, because for some reason I couldn't even move."

Okur wound up missing Thursday's win at San Antonio and — after initially thinking he'd be good to go — Saturday's victory over his ex-Detroit Pistons club as well.

If Okur indeed plays, backup Kyrylo Fesenko — who started all three games in his absence — will return to the bench.

That's an easy call for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.

More difficult will be the decision on what to do when swingmen Kyle Korver and C.J. Miles return.

Both have been out all season, and rookie Wesley Matthews has started five straight at shooting guard while usual starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer has shifted to starting small forward.

"For the most part I've given guys, when they've been hurt or sick, (their former role back) when they come back," Sloan said Monday.

"But guys that have been out as long as C.J. and Kyle, I've got to go on.

"We've got to see these guys play when they come back, and see what kind of shape they're in, and try to adjust to what we think is best for the team."

MILES, KORVER UPDATE: Miles, last season's starter at small forward, had his first physical therapy rehab session with a hand specialist Monday since undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his left, shooting thumb.

But Korver, who backed up Brewer at shooting guard last season, said Monday he hopes to perhaps be ready to return by week's end.

"It's possible, I think," he said. "But we'll see how it is."

The Jazz also play Chicago on Thursday and Portland on Saturday.

Korver said he's progressed to jumping when shooting, but he still hasn't tested the knee to the max.

"I can't really jump to get a rebound, but I haven't really tried," he said. "That will be in the next couple days."

PRICE UPDATE: Combo guard Ronnie Price, who's missed six straight games with what the Jazz are calling a sprained left big toe, said he still hasn't been cleared to run or jump.