Strained back sidelines Okur

Age eventually wears down everyone. Even Jazz center Mehmet Okur, who entered the season averaging 75.5 games per season during his first eight years in the NBA.

Okur missed his second consecutive contest Saturday night during Utah’s 98-92 home victory against Memphis. His absence was due to a lower back strain, an injury that has troubled him throughout his career.

“Same old same old for my back,” said Okur, following a morning shootaround.

The veteran reserve has played in just four of Utah’s 34 games this season, also dealing with a surgically repaired left Achilles tendon and a right ankle sprain.

He was forced to leave a road game Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers and did not play Thursday versus Portland because of his sore back.

Okur recently received cortisone and epidural shots to alleviate the pain, which left him unable to walk Thursday.

He could return to the court today, though, during a Jazz practice.

“I feel better but I’m not there yet,” Okur said.