"There have been bouts with gastric distress, a couple of tweaked adductors, along with a few strains and sprains here and there.

And, of course, that troubled tendon in Mehmet Okur's Achilles heel.

But for the most part, the Utah Jazz have been as healthy as an ox this season.

Aside from time Okur missed for surgery rehab, Jazz players had only missed 12 games due to injuries and illnesses coming into this week.

Even with Okur's 29 absences, the Jazz have missed just 44 man games due to various ailments this season. As a comparison, Portland players have now been absent 108 games this season.

Perhaps one of their Northwest Division rivals started poking a Jazz voodoo doll or maybe they picked up an injury bug on their pre-Christmas trip.

Or could be they just started experiencing what most NBA teams do because of the wear and tear of a rigorous season."