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Nuggets Tipoff

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 23, 2007 at midnight

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NUMBERS GAME

6 is the jersey number forward Kenyon Martin won't wear next season. Martin said he has petitioned the NBA to change, but he wouldn't reveal what he'll wear. "Because No. 6 wasn't working in Denver," the often-injured Martin said of the change.

SITTING SMITH

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has played in six games since his return from left knee surgery Feb. 21. But his playing time has been cut significantly.

"I'm just going to play the guys I think can win games," Nuggets coach George Karl said when asked about Smith. "I told everybody, 'If we're going to take bad shots and have tough turnovers and you're not going to understand defensive assignments, I'm not going to have a lot of tolerance for it.' "

All of Smith's 11 minutes Thursday at Chicago were in the first half. He said his knee is 80 percent.

"Going into the paint, jumping and stuff, I haven't felt as comfortable," said Smith, who is frustrated but vows to "get back sooner or later."

HE SAID IT

"I don't know if we've put a 48-minute defensive game together. We're saving that for the playoffs. We're not going to do that right now."

Karl, on his team's often-maligned defense, which has shown recent improvement.