Jazz's Williams says he won't play against Minnesota

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The Jazz's Deron Williams said he will not play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at EnergySolutions Arena on Friday night because of a strained tendon in his wrist.

"I can't hold the ball," he explained after the pre-game shootaround Friday morning. "I tried."

Williams suffered the injury at the end of the first quarter during a 112-105 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday night. He kept playing, however, and finished with a season-high 39 points.

"Didn't want to lose," Williams said. "Sometimes it makes you concentrate — there's so much pain — it makes you concentrate on your follow through and finishing your shots."

Williams skipped practice Thursday morning to undergo an MRI exam, which showed no structural damage to his wrist, and team spokesman Jonathan Rinehart said Williams' availability against the Timberwolves was expected to be a game-time decision.

But Williams contradicted that at the shootaround.

"I told you right now I'm not playing," he said. "You can go and continue to ask them, but I think I know if I'm playing or not."

The Jazz already knew they will be without Kyrylo Fesenko against Minnesota; he will be sidelined again because of a sinus infection. Meanwhile, Paul Millsap and Raja Bell are listed as game-time decisions for the Jazz. Millsap has been bothered with a bruised thumb, and Bell has a sore shoulder and neck.