"The Jazz moved a step closer Sunday to being at full strength for their remaining two regular-season games as well as the start of the playoffs this week as both Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur took part in practice.

Okur went through the full practice while Kirilenko, who has missed 13 of the past 15 games with a strained left calf, did all the running and shooting drills before sitting out 5-on-5 play at the end, according to the team.

"We've been waiting for them to get back and healthy," Deron Williams said. "Hopefully, A.K.'s back for good and doesn't tweak it or re-injure it because we need him for the playoffs."

"He brings a dimension to our team that nobody else on this team can bring," Williams added. "We're glad and excited to have him back. It's probably going to take him a couple games to get back in playing shape, but he'll be ready."

Both Kirilenko and Okur previously stated the goal of returning before the start of the playoffs. The Jazz have games left Tuesday at Golden State and Wednesday at home against Phoenix, and both were hopeful Sunday of playing in them.

"As long as you can go on the floor and [are] doing something, you feel like it's going somewhere," Kirilenko said, adding, "Right now, it's coming to that point when it's day to day, like every day you can play [or] if something's wrong, you don't play.""