Utah Jazz hope D-Will returns soon

PHILADELPHIA — Coach Jerry Sloan wasn't sure Saturday if starting point guard Deron Williams would re-join the team for practice Monday, but teammates are hoping he can.

Williams left the team Friday because one of his two young daughters underwent a medical procedure and subsequent hospital testing, and he missed both Friday's win at Philadelphia and Saturday's loss at Cleveland.

"We just embrace him ... and hope the best for him, hope he's getting some good news out there," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said. "Whatever he needs, we'll obviously be there to support him and help him any way we can."

What the Jazz really hope is that all will be fine with Williams' child and he can return when Utah plays next, Wednesday at home vs. Toronto.

Jazz backup point Ronnie Price, meanwhile, said Saturday his goal is to return Wednesday.

He's missed three straight games with a sprained left big toe.

"I can see our game improving," Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko said at the end of a four-game road trip. "Our result is 2-2. It's not very bad. It's decent, not great. But I think we can be a better team, especially with all the guys coming back."

KIND WORDS: With Williams and Price out, rookie Eric Maynor made a second straight start and finished with 24 points — very nearly engineering a second-half comeback against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

"Eric did a terrific job of getting us in our offense and executing that and getting on top of the basket and those sorts of things," Sloan said. "He gave us opportunities that were pretty good."

Afterward, James had kind words on the court delivered directly to both Jazz rookie Wesley Matthews, who once worked at one of the Cleveland star's basketball camps, and Maynor, who'd never previously met him.

"He just told me, 'Keep working. You've got a great coach ... (you're) a great player,' " Maynor said. "It was cool."

MATTHEWS ON BOARD: James made waves last Thursday when he said NBA players wearing No. 23 should change their number next season to NBA legend Michael Jordan and his impact on the game.

Reaction has been mixed.

According to ESPN.com, Golden State's C.J. Watson agrees but New York's Toney Douglas isn't ready to commit.

Thirteen NBA players currently wear 23, including James and ... Jazz rookie Matthews.

"I'm on board," Matthews said. "I mean, Jordan has influenced everybody that plays this game, and he was my idol growing up."

James plans to change to No. 6, his USA Basketball Olympic number. Matthews joked he'd like to wear 86, his birth year.

HE SAID IT: Ex-Cav Boozer, a free agent next summer, after the Jazz lost in Cleveland for the sixth straight, matching his tenure in Utah: "I guess we have next year."

MISC.: Boozer was booed heavily when introduced and when he first touched the ball, but that soon died down. ... Sloan was called for a technical Saturday. It was the first tech of the season for him and/or a Jazz player.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com