AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — In his first public comments since spraining his left elbow in Sunday’s home opener, C.J. Watson said he dislocated the elbow when he pursued a loose ball.

“It dislocated when I tried to plant,” Watson said as he sat on the sidelines at the Palace of Auburn Hills. "I felt the pain and popped it back in.

“I just felt it pop out of place and suffered a lot of pain. I was hoping it wouldn’t be anything really, really bad but I knew I’d be out for a bit. Actually, when I bent it myself it popped back into place. I guess that was a good thing.”

Watson said he learned Sunday night that he wouldn’t need surgery on the injury but that the Monday MRI exam confirmed that diagnosis.

“They’re saying a week or so or day-to-day depending on how much pain I can handle,” Watson said. “I was pretty relieved no surgery. We knew that night but the MRI confirmed it.”

Watson said he planned to wear a sling for a week, which would rule him out of this three-game trip that continues to Orlando and Atlanta.

“Coach (Tom Thibodeau) wanted me to travel,” Watson said. “You never know I might be able to play. It’s feeling better and I could probably play, but I wouldn’t be able to help a lot. I’ll be back as fast as I can.”