Utah Jazz: D-Will will start against Celtics

BOSTON — Backup point guard Ronnie Price won't play against the Boston Celtics tonight, but — in something of a surprise — starting point Deron Williams will.

Price is out with a sprained left toe sustained in Monday night's win at New York.

Williams missed practice Tuesday and this morning's shootaround because of a strained back that isn't getting any better.

But he plans to play, despite saying this morning that the back "actually feels worse today" and that muscle tightness had spread from his lower back to the mid-back area.

"I'm feeling a little bit better," he said about an hour before gametime, just after finishing pre-game shooting drills. "Still stiff, but better. ... It's a lot better than it was. This morning it was bad."

Williams was so sore Tuesday night he slept on the floor in the room at the Jazz's luxury hotel here, but he visited with a chiropractor for about two hours this afternoon.

If Williams wasn't available tonight, the Jazz would have been down to just nine players — including only three guards, rookie point Eric Maynor, starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer and undrafted rookie swingman Wesley Matthews.

"That's why I might play," Williams said in the morning.

He was concerned, though, about just how much he could help.

"I just don't want to affect the team in a negative way," Williams said after the shootaround he sat out.

"That's my main concern, if I'm not out there full strength. When I'm on the court, people look for me to score and not only get people open but create shots. And I couldn't really do that last game."

With Williams planning on playing No. 3 point Eric Maynor won't be making his first NBA start.