MEMPHIS, Tenn. — If it weren't for injuries to a couple teammates, Deron Williams might be the picture of health today.

Instead, the Jazz's starting point guard continues to be nagged by a strained left groin muscle that has caused him to miss two of Utah's four games since he initially was injured — and has his status for tonight's visit to Memphis, the start of three-game road trip, in doubt.

Williams got hurt playing in the NBA's annual Rookie-Sophomore Challenge game during All-Star Weekend earlier this month, and he sat out the Jazz's first game after the break — a Feb. 20 loss to Portland.

The NBA's No. 2 assists-per-game leader this season returned to help Utah beat Denver last Friday night, then planned to skip Saturday's home game against Boston, the back end of a back-to-back set.

Until, that is, starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko bruised a knee against the Nuggets and starting center Mehmet Okur came up with painful back spasms that caused him to miss both Friday's game against the Nuggets and Saturday's with the Celtics.

"I felt good the Denver game," Williams said. "I said I wasn't going to play the Boston game, but when I saw A.K. and Memo weren't playing (Saturday), I just thought I had to."

The result: a setback.

Williams said the muscle isn't torn, and he didn't necessarily aggravate the strain by playing against the Celtics. But the injury still is so painful he was unable to go in Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and he sat out practice Tuesday morning as well.

"When I woke up the next morning from the Denver game, it was sore. And it was hurting pretty bad in the Boston game," he said. "Now, I just want to rest it and make sure I'm 100 percent healthy."

Williams couldn't say for certain whether or not that means sitting out tonight against the 15-43 Grizzlies.

And all Jazz coach Jerry Sloan knows for sure is that he doesn't want the problem to be a recurring one that bothers Williams throughout March, April and the playoffs beyond.

"We discussed it (Monday)," Sloan said. "We're gonna support him, whatever he feels like doing. But if we continue to go out there, and then off here, that gets old.

"He's got to try to get better," the Jazz coach added, "because those groin injuries can be a lingering thing."

In the meantime, starting shooting guard Derek Fisher will prepare not knowing for sure if he's going to open at point in place of Williams or in his usual place at the 2 spot.

That's fine by Fisher, who got the call at point guard — with ex-Grizzlies guard Gordan Giricek taking over as the off-guard — in the Jazz's losses both at Portland and to the Lakers.

"Whenever I'm on the court, no matter what position I'm in, I'm just trying to help us win the game," Fisher said. "Whatever plays I need to try to make to do that, I'm willing to do it.

"It doesn't mean I'm going to be perfect, or try to compare myself to Deron at all," he added. "I'm just trying to help us win."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com