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Oakland, Calif. • After the Jazz's 91-82 loss to the Spurs on Friday, Marvin Williams was asked how his surgically repaired Achilles felt.
Right now, the unnatural indentation on the left side of his nose is the bigger issue. X-rays revealed the Jazz forward broke it after taking an elbow to the face in the first half of the game.
But it wasn't enough to keep him off the floor Saturday night against the Warriors.
"He's a tough guy and a competitor and he wants to be out there to help his team," Jazz coach Ty Corbin said before the game. "We want to make sure we do the right thing by him and not put him anymore in harm's way than he has to be."
Williams wore a mask for part of the second half Friday, but eventually took it off and played without it because it was obscuring his vision. The mask was back Saturday. Corbin said the earliest Williams could be fitted for a new mask — if that's the path he and the team decide to take — would be Monday.
Star power
Three Jazz players have their names on the All-Star ballot.
Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are all on the ballot for February's All-Star Game in New Orleans. Fan voting opened this week.
'He completes us'
Former Ute Andrew Bogut is averaging less than six points a night for the Golden State Warriors, but his coach says any points are just "a bonus."
"He's healthy for the first time in a long time and that's going to come," Mark Jackson said. "But the things he does to put us in position is off the charts. … He completes us as a team."
Back in the Bay Area
It was a homecoming of sorts Saturday night at Oracle Arena for the Jazz's Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush. The trio came to Utah from Golden State in a trade that also gave the Jazz the Warriors' 2014 first-round draft pick.
"I've got a lot of respect for them," Jackson said. "I love those guys and appreciate everything they did in a Warrior uniform. They made me look good, so I'll forever be grateful."
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