Originally published Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM

Jazz without Okur, Millsap leaves with injury

The short-handed Utah Jazz played without center Mehmet Okur on Tuesday night, then got a major scare when forward Paul Millsap injured his left knee early in the first quarter against the Bucks.

MILWAUKEE —

The short-handed Utah Jazz played without center Mehmet Okur on Tuesday night, then got a major scare when forward Paul Millsap injured his left knee early in the first quarter against the Bucks.

Okur, who is averaging 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds, had back spasms. He had tallied at least 23 points and nine rebounds in each of his last three contests. Okur also missed a game Nov. 17 with back spasms.

Millsap was hurt after leaping to block a layup attempt by Michael Redd. He landed awkwardly and stayed on the ground for several minutes before being helped to the locker room, putting no pressure on his left leg.

Millsap returned to the bench late in the second quarter with his left knee in a brace. X-rays on the knee were negative, and he was expected to play in the second half, the Jazz said.

Millsap came in with 15 straight double-doubles, the longest active streak in the NBA. He is averaging 15.1 points, nine rebounds and 1.3 blocks this season.

Okur and Millsap joined forward Carlos Boozer on the bench. Boozer, who is averaging 20.5 points and 11.7 rebounds, missed his 18th straight game Tuesday with a strained left quad tendon.

Kyrylo Fesenko, a 7-foot-1, 300-pound center, replaced Okur in the lineup after not playing in the team's last 11 games. It was his first career start.

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