Utah Jazz: It's official: Williams to play tonight

Deron Williams is back.

Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring, Brevin Knight and Jarron Collins are still out.

But Williams is back. He announced this morning after shootaround that he will indeed play in tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

"It's a lot of guys out right now. We're real depleted," Williams said. "So, it's a good time for me to come back."

Williams said his left ankle, which was severely sprained more than a month ago in the preseason, "definitely feels better" than when he first returned from the injury for two games two weeks ago.

"I went and did some tests yesterday and my left ankle is probably stronger than my right ankle," he said. "It's just still a little painful, so (I've) just gotta get through the pain."

Along with Williams, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he will again start Paul Millsap in place of Boozer, who said he's improving but still isn't ready to return from his strained quadriceps and bruised knee cap injuries.

Harpring (strained back), Korver (sprained right wrist) and Knight (sprained left index finger) will not dress up for tonight's game.

Neither will Collins, who said for now he will opt to rest his injured elbow and arm instead of undergoing surgery to repair the damage caused from an offseason golf cart accident. He will meet with Jazz management and doctors later today to firm up a plan and timetable.

As for Williams, the star point guard said he won't play 40 minutes tonight and he doesn't plan on playing in both ends of back-to-back games, so he doesn't anticipate playing in both home games Friday and Saturday.

But he is anxious to get back on the court and believes he'll be able to contribute to the Jazz, who've racked up a 9-6 record mostly without his services.

"This is basketball," he said. "It's like riding a bike. Once you get back out there you'll be fine."

Though Williams said he is in good shape, he admits there will be an adjustment period before he returns to full game shape.

"It's something you've just got to see how it goes," he said. "I know the altitude will probably hit me. I might have to call for a sub, which I don't do too often."

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