The Mark Williams injury update you did not want to read

Mark Williams has been one of the standout players for the Phoenix Suns so far this season. He has been held out of back-to-backs as he works his way into a playing schedule that suits him, but when available he has been crucial to this team's success.

Williams questionable for meeting with Denver Nuggets.

So while it is no great surprise that he is listed as questionable to face the Denver Nuggets having played the previous night in an entertaining loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, when will how he is used change under head coach Jordan Ott?

Coach Ott has handled the entire Williams situation brilliantly since he came over from the Charlotte Hornets, and you have to trust he is again making the right call here. Playing the Thunder is a gruelling experience, although they were missing their own starting big man in Isaiah Hartenstein for that game.

In another slice of good fortune for the Suns, superstar Nikola Jokic has already been confirmed as out for the matchup, as he deals with a wrist sprain. If ever there was a time to take on the Nuggets and give Williams the chance to test out a back-to-back, this was the opportunity.

One which takes on even more importance given the Suns lost their last game, and aren't favored in this one either. Losing to two of the three best teams in the league alongside the Houston Rockets is no reason for concern, and the schedule was always going to get worse for Phoenix.

But it would be great if they didn't allow this to turn into a bigger slide, particularly with some of their key players out right now. Grayson Allen is also unavailable, while we won't see Jalen Green this side of Christmas.

Williams recently turned in a massive 21 point, 16 board performance in a win over the Sacramento Kings, and a similar game versus Denver surely would have put them on track to win. At least the team will have Collin Gillespie to lean on, as he has been on a tear lately.

So while this was an expected update, it is one tinged with what might have been. Rushing Williams into any sort of situation that pushes him too far would be a disaster, but if he's going to get a hefty extension he can't be held out of these games forever. Maybe next time.