Williams ready to go for tonight's game

HOUSTON — Asked Saturday morning about his sore rear end, Jazz point guard Deron Williams gave a rather encouraging — albeit somewhat flip — assessment of a bruise that has been bothering him since he has hurt a week ago.

Williams said he was "127.25 percent" healthy for tonight's Game 1 of Utah's first-round, best-of-seven NBA Western Conference playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

"That's what we're going to say," Williams said.

The Jazz point then left the Toyota Center here with a large bag of ice wrapped to his back side.

The Rockets aren't exactly fully healthy at the point either for the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed series.

Would-be starter Rafter Alston will miss the ESPN-televised Game 1, and likely Monday night's Game 2 in Houston as well, with a strained hamstring.

Alston will be replaced in Houston's starting lineup by Bobby Jackson, a veteran who really is more of a combo guard than a pure point.

Williams, originally hurt last Saturday night on a flagrant foul by Denver star Carmelo Anthony, cited the injury for missing the second half of Utah's regular season-ending loss on Wednesday night at San Antonio.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com