Moments before the 2008-09 season tips off for the Utah Jazz against the Denver Nuggets tonight, EnergySolutions Arena will become pitch black and the pregame "Intro Show" with state-of-the-art lights and sound will begin.

Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer, for one, can't wait to see what Jazz officials "have cooked up for us" before the 7 p.m. tipoff.

Deron Williams, on the other hand, has mixed emotions. After Jazz shootaround this morning, Williams said he is excited to see the show before the real show. But the injured point guard won't be introduced in the starting lineup — as he's still recuperating from his sprained left ankle he hurt almost two weeks ago — so he's also bummed out that he will be in street clothes tonight.

"That's the whole reason I was trying to get back for," Williams said, joking about the new introduction festivities.

Tonight won't happen, but Williams has a new target date for his 2008-09 debut: Nov. 5 at home against the Trail Blazers.

"I'd like to get back as soon as possible," he said. "But the Portland game probably looks the most, you know, feasible."

As of Tuesday, Williams hoped playing in the Jazz's NBA opener would still be a possibility. He even participated in Utah's practice but reaggravated his tender ankle, forcing him to admit "it wasn't ready" to play on yet.

"I don't like missing games at all," he said. "I don't like missing practices for that matter, but that's how it is."

Williams is receiving treatment from the Jazz medical staff once a day — down from twice daily treatments — and keeps his ankle wrapped and iced as much as possible to minimize swelling.

The Olympic gold medalist said he trusts that Ronnie Price, who'll take his spot in the starting lineup, and backup Brevin Knight will do well in his absence.

"Adding Brevin definitely helps as well because he's a guy who can take over and run a team," Williams said this morning. "Ronnie has definitely been playing great. He has really came into his own as a point guard. I've got a lot of confidence in those two guys."

So does Boozer.

"I think Ronnie and Brevin are ready to rock and roll," he said. "We're ready to play."

Price, the former Utah Valley standout, said his butterflies aren't fluttering around too much with the countdown clock ticking for just his fourth NBA start.

"I'm not nervous. Like I said, it's basketball. I've been playing this game since I was 8 years old and all the nervousness and jitteriness and all that stuff, I'm over that," Price said.

"It's more an anxious feeling of just being out there and competing again. That's the No. 1 feeling. So if you're nervous ... then something's wrong. So I'm not nervous at all."

Though Williams and Matt Harpring (ankle rehab) are out tonight, backup big man Jarron Collins will be available to play after missing some preseason action with triceps tendinitis. Carmelo Anthony (team suspension) is one of four Nuggets who will not play tonight.

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E-mail: jody@desnews.com

Contributing: Tim Buckley