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Jazz guard Deron Williams said that he will see a specialist today to determine the status of a lingering wrist injury.
Williams will not play tonight during a home game against Houston, and will have missed four consecutive contests due to a strained tendon in his right wrist.
"I just thought it'd be healed by now," said Williams, following a morning shootaround at EnergySolutions Arena.
He added: "I wish I had [seen the specialist] a little earlier. But it is what it is."
A Jazz spokesman said that the team might have an update about Williams' status before tipoff tonight versus the Rockets.
Williams said that this injury is unique when compared to past wrist issues. The All-Star guard and team leader's range of motion has not improved and he is still dealing with significant pain, which has limited his ability to shoot or pass the ball. Any on-the-court action that requires a flick of the wrist is almost impossible for him right now.
"It's a different type of pain," said Williams, who has been forced to wear a soft cast due to the injury. "I can't shoot the basketball past 12 feet, and it hurts a lot when I do that."
Williams leads Utah (29-20) in average points (21.9), assists (9.4) and minutes (37.7). He had started all 46 of the Jazz's games prior to the injury, and has been spelled by veteran reserve Earl Watson during his three-game absence.
Williams first injured his wrist Jan. 26 during a home loss to San Antonio. Dealing with what was originally diagnosed as a hyperextension, he played through the discomfort and scored a season-high 39 points. He has not taken the court since.
Williams has undergone a variety of treatments to address the injury, but said that nothing has worked. A magnetic resonance imaging exam was negative and did not reveal any damage. But Williams acknowledged feeling a "pop" when the injury first occurred, which happened while playing against Spurs guard George Hill.
"It's kind of hard to move a human being with your fingers," Williams said laughing. "I found that out the hard way."
Williams was initially informed that a tendon had stretched. He was then advised that soft tissue injuries tend to heal slower than bone bruises, which is what the guard dealt with last season.
"I fell on my wrist 10 times this year and I can play through that pain all day," Williams said.
Asked what his wrist treatments have consisted of thus far, Williams said "everything." He specifically pointed out stimulation, icing and heat.
"We tried to do a lot of movement stuff, but it seemed like it was making it more sore; it was stretching it out. We backed off that," Williams said. "I've been in the brace pretty much, where I can move it except when we do treatments. So, I don't know. I'm going to this specialist and maybe they can shoot it up somehow. I'll try anything to get back on the court. I hate sitting out practice, games, whatever."
— Brian T. Smith
Twitter: tribjazz