After a weeklong absence because of back spasms, Jazz center Memo Okur will play Monday night against Philadelphia at EnergySolutions Arena.
Officially, Okur's availability is being called a game-time decision, but after Monday morning's shootaround he said, "Yeah, I will be out there. ... I got treatment and rested a little bit and I'll be ready to go." Without Okur, the Jazz lost at Milwaukee (94-86) and Houston (120-115 in double overtime). In between, they defeated Dallas (97-88).
In Okur's place, rookie Kosta Koufos and second-year man Kyrylo Fesenko filled in admirably against Dallas and Houston.
Koufos had a career-high 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting against the Mavericks. Fesenko scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a career-high 34 minutes against Yao Ming and the Rockets.
"They did a great job," Okur said. "In those two games, they went out there and stepped up and played great."
Coach Jerry Sloan said Okur would start, if he is available.
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Steve Luhm
