Utah Jazz: Williams to miss 76ers game dealing with a 'family issue'

PHILADELPHIA — Jazz starting point guard Deron Williams has left the team for personal reasons and will not play in tonight's road game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"He is dealing with a family issue," Jazz president Randy Rigby said today in a phone interview.

The matter is medical related.

Williams traveled with the team from Boston to Philadelphia on Thursday night, but he left here early this morning and was not at the team shootaround this morning.

The Jazz weren't certain today if Williams will be available for Saturday night's game at Cleveland, where Utah closes a four-game Eastern trip, or even when he'll re-join the team.

With backup point guard Ronnie Price out due to a sprained left big toe, rookie Eric Maynor — a first-round draft choice from Virginia Commonwelth — will get his first NBA start tonight.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan also said rookie swingman Wesley Matthews will start as well and usual starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko will come off the bench.

It will also be the first NBA start for Matthews, who was undrafted out of Marquette.

Sloan said Kirilenko won't start because he doesn't want all three of his players who can get the Jazz into their offense — Maynor, Kirilenko and starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer — opening on the floor at the same time.

"I don't have any other point guard if I start all three of them, so I'll have him (Kirilenko) come off the bench," the Jazz coach said. "He's accustomed to doing that."

Kirilenko has played the point only once in a playoff game, but he said he'll try to make things work as a point-forward if needed.

"The hardest part is to keep tempo every time," he said, "because with DWill (Williams) at point guard we always push the ball in a fastbreak.

"It is what it is," Kirilenko added. "All I can say, we need everybody."

Sloan said he opted for Kirilenko over Brewer for the role only because Kirilenko, who did not start last season, is more accustomed to coming off the bench.

Sloan's expectations for Maynor, meanwhile, are rather rudimentary.

"Just get us in our offense, and just play basketball, you know?" he said. "You know, he's been around — he needs a chance to play anyway."

With Price out and Williams slowed by a strained back and bruised calf, Maynor logged 16 minutes in Wednesday night's loss at Boston — matching the total from his first five NBA games.

"We've got a great coach, so he's gonna figure it out," Maynor said. "He'll figure something out.

"I'm excited," the 22-year-old added. "I'm excited to play any game, but to be able to come out here and get a start, my first career NBA start, I'm very excited."

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com