Utah Jazz: A 50-50 chance for Williams

Point guard Deron Williams played his second straight game Friday night after missing 13 of the season's first 15 because of a sprained left ankle sustained in the preseason.

Because the Jazz blew out the Sacramento Kings 120-94, however, Williams logged only 27 minutes.

Williams said that "definitely helps" the possibility he'll be play tonight — though afterward he still wasn't sure if he'd be able to go again when Utah plays New Jersey in the back end of a back-to-back set.

Williams said he left Friday's game feeling "a little sore," and that he's "50-50" for tonight.

"All the rest I can get right now is great, great for my ankle," he said. "But I've got to see how it feels (today)."

Before playing Friday, Williams — who logged 29 against Memphis last Wednesday, the first game in his second comeback from the ankle injury — said he felt "pretty sore" Thursday.

"Some things I do still hurt," he said. "But I just have to play through it."

Williams, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan suggested Friday night, still isn't his usual self.

"He's not as lively, I don't think, as he was last year, right now," Sloan said. "His conditioning, probably, is (behind) a little bit. But that's to be expected.

"Hopefully, you can win games while you're trying to get him at the top of his game," the Jazz coach added. "He's got a lot more in him, and I think he knows that."

KORVER BACK: Jazz backup shooting guard Kyle Korver returned Friday following a four-game absence due to a re-sprained right wrist.

Korver had 12 points on 4-of-10 field shooting in 25 minutes against the Kings, and later said he felt a bit "rusty."

The fact it's his shooting wrist that's been sprained made the length of his unavailability longer than it would have been otherwise, Korver suggested after Friday's morning shootaround.

"It's kind of what I do. ... But it feels pretty good now," he said.

Also extending the absence was the fact the injury is a re-sprain.

"It's getting pretty close (to completely healed)," Korver said. "(But) I wouldn't say it's 100 percent. If it was 100 percent, I'd have to wait quite a while."

SO WHAT?: With the Nets in town tonight, the Jazz are playing their first back-to-back set with both games at home since February of 2001.

That's no big deal to Sloan, who said, "You've got to play wherever you are."

Jazz players like the set-up, though.

"It's kind of nice," Korver said. "(You sleep) in your own bed, and have the whole day to get ready for the next game."