Utah Jazz: Williams out tonight, Knight questionable

The Jazz could be without two of their point guards when the play host tonight to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Usual starter Deron Williams said he will sit yet again because of the sprained left ankle he sustained one month and one day ago, during an Oct. 18 preseason game at Chicago.

"It still hurts," Williams said after the Jazz's shootaround this morning.

Veteran reserve point Brevin Knight, who has finishing for the Jazz while Williams has been out, is listed as "doubtful" for tonight due to a groin strain sustained in Monday's win over Phoenix.

Knight said the groin wasn't any worse today, but added, "it just hasn't gotten better," and lateral movement continues to be a problem.

He said he'll decide whether or not he's playing before the game.

If both indeed are out, usual starting small forward C.J. Miles and sixth-man forward Andrei Kirilenko will team to back up replacement starter Ronnie Price. Starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer could handle the ball a bit as well.

"If I have to play extended minutes tonight ... then it's my job, and I'll do it," said Price, the undrafted Utah Valley State product.

The Jazz should be able to get by with point-by-committee behind Price, Williams suggested.

"The thing about our offense is you just have to get the ball up the court and enter it in, and after that you just rely on the system," he said.

Meanwhile, center Mehmet Okur told coach Jerry Sloan he will try to play tonight.

But veteran reserve Jarron Collins, who started in Okur's place against the Suns, will sit out tonight due to the sore right elbow that has bothered him throughout the season.

Okur missed four games last week while visiting his seriously ill father in Turkey, and did not play Monday because of a strained lower back.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com