This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Cleveland • Jazz center Mehmet Okur said that the incident was mostly frustrating and partly ironic.
After spending eight months working to rehabilitate a ruptured left Achilles' tendon, Okur made his season debut last Friday against New Orleans. He enjoyed two games on the court, and started to find a rhythm during a Utah victory last Saturday versus Milwaukee. Then Okur's basketball world hit a minor but annoying roadblock Monday, when he sprained his right ankle during warm-ups prior to the Jazz's win against Cleveland.
The veteran big man was inactive versus the Cavaliers, wearing a large protective boot instead of much preferred athletic shoes.
The boot was gone Tuesday, as Okur put up shots before practice. But his ankle was still sore, he is listed as day to day, and he is uncertain whether he will receive a green light Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"It's been weird," Okur said.
Much Love
The human rebound vacuum otherwise known as Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has an admirer in Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who said that the third-year player is a magnet on the boards.
Love leads the NBA in average rebounds (15.5), and has often put up American Basketball Association-type numbers this season, highlighted by a 43-point, 17-rebound outing last Saturday during a loss to Denver.
"He uses a lot of energy to go after it," Sloan said. "I've always liked him because he's a hard worker, and those guys continue to get better. And he can shoot the ball at the 3-point line, which makes it tough for a lot of 4s to guard him."
Reduced roles
Utah's Kyrylo Fesenko, Ronnie Price and Gordon Hayward saw their minutes decline during the two games that Okur was on the court and played with the Jazz's second unit. Hayward saw the largest reduction, dropping to two minutes, while Okur was active after recording 16 during a start versus New Orleans.
bsmith@sltrib.comTwitter: @tribjazz —
Jazz at Timberwolves
P At Target Center, Minneapolis
Tipoff • 6 p.m.
TV • FSN Utah
Radio • 1320 AM, 1600 AM, 98.7 FM
Records • Jazz 20-9, Timberwolves 6-23
Last meeting • Jazz, 122-100 (March 17)
About the Jazz • Utah has won two consecutive games for the first time since its seven-game winning streak ended on Dec. 1. … C.J. Miles ranks fourth on the Jazz in average scoring (12.4), and has moved past starter Andrei Kirilenko (11.4). The duo are among five Utah players averaging double figures in scoring.
About the Timberwolves • Second-year forward Michael Beasley leads the team in scoring (21.3) and is shooting 46.7 percent from the field. … Ex-Jazz guard Sundiata Gaines is averaging 3 points and 0.9 assists while shooting 31.8 percent from the floor. … Minnesota has lost six consecutive games and eight of its last nine.