"People who had eight months exactly in their "How long before Mehmet Okur returns?" office pool can bask in bragging rights.

For the first time since he ruptured his left Achilles heel on April 17, the Utah Jazz center and his surgically repaired tendon saw action in an NBA game Friday night.

"It's been eight months," Okur said after his near-11-minute outing. "It's nice to be out there."

It wasn't exactly a triumphant return, considering Okur only had two points on 1-for-4 shooting, one assist and zero rebounds off the bench in Utah's 100-71 blowout loss to the New Orleans Hornets.

But simply returning was a triumph for Okur, who spent nearly eight grueling months rehabbing his Achilles and building strength in his left leg following surgery in early May.

"It could've been better, but I'll take it because it's first game," said Okur, who didn't experience any soreness Friday. "I've got to continue to work harder.""