Utah Jazz: D-Will, Price sit out Jazz practice in Boston

BOSTON — Neither starting point guard Deron Williams nor backup point Ronnie Price practiced when the Jazz worked out this afternoon at Suffolk University here.

Williams sat out because of both tightness in his lower back, which bothered him throughout the second half of Monday night's win at New York, and pain in his left shin, which has been bruised since he got kicked in a victory over San Antonio last Thursday night.

Price sprained his left big toe in the second quarter of the Knicks game, and did not play in the second half.

The Jazz — one game into a four-stop Eastern road trip, and down to just nine players for practice today — are calling Williams a "game-time decision" and Price "questionable" for Wednesday night's visit with the Boston Celtics.

"I'm sore, tight, stiff," said Williams, who could not commit to being ready for Boston. "I just have see how it feels, getting some more treatment (and) massage. ... I just have to see how my back feels in the morning."

Williams did seem to be walking better this afternoon than he was Monday night, but Price was not moving well at all.

"This morning I woke up and it was still really sore, really painful," said Price, who did not sound hopeful about playing against the Celtics. "It's kind of hard to walk around. I've just to keep the pressure off my toe, off the bottom of my foot."

If neither Williams nor Price can go Wednesday, rookie point Eric Maynor could get his first NBA start. The first-round draft choice from Virginia Commonwealth hasn't played more than six minutes in any of the 3-4 Jazz's seven games this season.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com