Jazz center Mehmet Okur said following a morning shootaround that he will not play tonight against Memphis.

Okur is dealing with a strained lower back that has troubled him throughout his career. He was forced to leave a road game Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers and did not play Thursday versus Portland.

Okur recently received cortisone and epidural shots to alleviate the pain, which left him unable to walk Thursday. He must wait 24-48 hours for the effects to set in, though. The earliest Okur expects to return to the court is Sunday during a scheduled Jazz practice.

"I feel better but I'm not there yet," Okur said.

Utah has yet to evalute a magnetic imaging resonance exam that Okur recently underwent. Initial x-rays of his back were negative, though, and he said the MRI is just precautionary.

"Same old same old for my back," Okur said.

Okur said that his body likely reacted poorly after sitting out eight months while recovering from left Achilles tendon surgery. He has dealt with a right ankle sprain and a sore back since being activated Dec. 17. Okur joked that he is getting old, while acknowledging that his injury issues are very frustrating. His New Year's resolution? Stay healthy.

"Even after I'm done playing, I'm going to have to deal with [my back]," Okur said. "Try to stay positive and hopefully this is the last one."

— Brian T. Smith

Twitter: tribjazz