Utah Jazz: No surgery for Price's toe

SAN ANTONIO — Jazz combo guard Ronnie Price will not have surgery on his injured toe, the team said today.

The Utah Valley product underwent two MRI exams and saw a specialist earlier this week.

"It was determined by a consensus of our doctors that any surgery would not benefit (Price's) return to play," Jazz trainer Gary Briggs said in a statement released by the team. "He'll continue with aggressive rehab."

Price sprained his left big toe in a Nov. 9 win at New York.

He's missed four straight games, and did not make the trip here to San Antonio for tonight's game against the Spurs.

The Jazz are hoping that by avoiding clean-out surgery for now Price could return sooner rather than later, and not have to miss additional multiple weeks.

The club, however, released no specific timetable for his anticipated return.

With Price out, rookie Eric Maynor has been backing up starter Deron Williams at the point and will do so again tonight.

Others out for the Jazz tonight include starting center Mehmet Okur, who didn't play in Wednesday's win over Toronto and did not make the trip to San Antonio due to flu-like symptoms.

But he was feeling a bit better tonight, and it's believed he is not suspected to have the H1N1 flu virus.