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Tossing ball into stands costs contrite Anthony

Nuggets star fined $5,000 but doesn't earn a suspension

Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 7, 2005 at midnight

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An impulsive fling cost Carmelo Anthony some bling.

The Denver Nuggets forward was fined $5,000 on Tuesday for throwing a ball into the stands Saturday against the Miami Heat.

"I wasn't surprised. I was waiting for the fine," Anthony said. "I was waiting for some consequences to face. I'll take the fine. It was my fault. . . . As soon as the ball left my hand, I was like (uh-oh)."

Anthony whipped the ball into the stands after being called for a charging foul late in the second quarter of the Nuggets' victory against the Heat.

The ball hit an 11-year-old girl sitting in the front row behind the basket. Anthony apologized to Taylor Alexander as the Nuggets went to the locker room at halftime.

"I told her I was sorry, (that) I was frustrated," Anthony said. "She responded back and said, 'We all get frustrated at times.' I was like 'Wow.' That was a good thing."

In addition to an apology, Taylor also received a Nuggets hat signed by Anthony and a jersey autographed by Earl Boykins.

"She wasn't looking for any more punishment for him," Taylor's father, Rick Alexander, said. "We didn't even discuss (the fine), but I think that might be the end of his throwing- balls-into-the-stands days."

Anthony admitted he got off easy with only a fine. Players typically are ejected when sending the ball into the stands.

Raja Bell, while playing for the Utah Jazz, got ejected for kicking the ball into the stands during a game against the Nuggets on Jan. 20, 2004. Tracy McGrady, then playing for the Orlando Magic, was ejected for the same infraction during a game against the Nuggets one month later.

Nuggets coach George Karl said he talked with Anthony about his outburst and cautioned him about losing his temper.

"The officials didn't see it," Karl said. "I think if they saw it, it might have been an ejection. We can't afford to lose him."

MARTIN EXITS EARLY: Big minutes in back-to-back games might have caught up with Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin.

Martin did not play in the second half of Tuesday night's 125-116 victory against the Atlanta Hawks because of tendinitis in his chronically sore left knee.

"Same old story," he said. "It was kind of iffy before the game. I tried to see how long I could withstand it."

Martin, who played more than 69 minutes in games Friday and Saturday, made 4 of 5 shots and scored nine points in nearly 14 minutes before calling it a night.

"I think when we threw him in there for 30 minutes a couples times in a row, we probably pushed him a little bit," Karl said. "Gotta win games, too. Can't play doctor the whole time."

The Nuggets do not play until Friday, and Martin said two days off "should help" his knee as the team begins a six-game trip.

SCOUTING STOUDAMIRE: In need of a three-point shooter, the Nuggets brought in Salim Stoudamire for a predraft workout during the summer. By most accounts, the session went pretty well.

"Yes it did," Stoudamire said before facing the Nuggets for the first time Tuesday.

Not well enough. The Nuggets passed up Stoudamire with the 20th and 22nd picks. Stoudamire, who led the NCAA in three-point shooting percentage in 2004-05, was taken in the second round by the Hawks.

"I was surprised, but that's how the ball bounces," he said. "I'm happy here in Atlanta."

Stoudamire scored 13 points against the Nuggets and is shooting .424 on three-pointers, which would be tops on a Nuggets team shooting an NBA-worst .250.

Despite the numbers, Karl said Stoudamire might not have been the right fit.

"With Earl (Boykins), I didn't think we needed another shoot-first point guard," he said.

ETC.: The Nuggets played without backup center Francisco Elson for the second game in a row. Elson is being treated for an infection on the top of his right foot and could return Friday . . . Nuggets athletic trainer Jim Gillen said forward Nene has started strength exercises as he rehabilitates his surgically repaired right knee. Nene soon will begin riding a stationary bike as he gradually increases his activity. "He's progressing fine," Gillen said. "Everything's good."