K-Mart's debut goes smoothly

Anthony's view after preseason win: 'He's back'

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 17, 2007 at midnight

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GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Nuggets were in a city where they like to look back at great Packers teams.

Kenyon Martin did his own rolling back of the clock.

The Nuggets forward, recovering from right knee microfracture surgery, played in his first game in nearly a year. It looked like he had missed a week.

During the Nuggets' 104-78 preseason win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at the Resch Center, Martin totaled 11 points and five rebounds in 15 first-half minutes. With the Nuggets remaining cautious about his health, Martin didn't play during the second half.

"He's back, man," said Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored 16 points, while guard Allen Iverson had a game-high 22. "Hopefully, his body can keep up. He was looking pretty good for his first game."

Martin last played Nov. 2. He underwent season-ending surgery later that month.

The Nuggets held Martin out of their first three preseason games. But he started Tuesday and wasted no time asserting himself.

On the game's first possession, Martin was fouled on a move to the basket and split two free throws. He drilled a 19-foot jumper, then stole the ball from Bucks rookie Yi Jianlian, who couldn't keep up with Martin.

Later, Martin had two alley- oop dunks. Both came off passes from Iverson, playing with Martin for the first time with the Nuggets.

"I always wanted to play with him, just knowing him over the years," Iverson said. "It was just fun being out there and playing with him."

Martin declined after the game to speak with a Rocky Mountain News reporter. When asked why, he said, "I don't have to give you an explanation."

The two times Martin checked out of the game during the first half, teammates stood in front of the bench, applauding and giving him high-fives.

"I was really happy," Nuggets coach George Karl said of Martin's debut. "I thought he got a good matchup with Yi early. . . . I think Kenyon felt confident."

Karl said the Nuggets will remain "conservative" with Martin. He likely won't play tonight against Detroit in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Martin had left knee microfracture surgery in May 2005 and is believed to be the first player to return from two such procedures.

Nuggets executive Rex Chapman said strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Hess has done a "great job" working to get Martin in shape.

"To get Kenyon back from two microfractures and to have that explosiveness he has is really unheard of," Chapman said.

Also making his Nuggets preseason debut was forward Eduardo Najera, who had a lower- back strain. Karl said Najera, who totaled six points and nine rebounds, tweaked his back Tuesday, but Najera insisted he'll be fine.

One thing was for sure. Martin looked fine in his debut.

ETC.: Karl might rest Anthony and Iverson, who sat out Sunday at Detroit, tonight. Anthony banged his knees, and his right knee was wrapped after the game, but he said he'll be fine. "The only thing that can keep me from playing is death," he said. . . . The Nuggets were without injured players Nene, Linas Kleiza, Chucky Atkins and Anthony Carter. Marcus Camby rested. For the Bucks, Andrew Bogut was out with the flu and Michael Redd rested. . . . The Nuggets' J.R. Smith drilled a three-pointer in the first half after having missed his first 11 preseason attempts and going 0-of-12 in the playoffs. . . . Karl believes "there's a good chance" his son, Coby, will make the Lakers opening-day roster.

DENVER (3-1) - Anthony 6-14 4-5 16, Martin 5-9 1-2 11, McCoy 3-5 0-0 6, Diawara 2-4 6-7 10, Iverson 7-15 8-8 22, Najera 1-4 4-4 6, Hunter 1-2 2-6 4, Wafer 2-7 0-0 5, B.Jones 2-5 3-4 7, Roberson 5-9 0-0 12, Smith 2-3 0-0 5, Augmon 0-1 0-0 0, Stricker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-78 28-36 104.

MILWAUKEE (2-2) - Mason 1-5 1-4 3, Jianlian 3-9 3-4 9, Gadzuric 1-5 2-4 4, Bell 5-13 6-6 17, Williams 6-16 4-4 16, Villanueva 3-10 0-0 7, Ivey 4-9 2-2 11, Ruffin 2-4 0-0 4, Voskuhl 0-2 0-0 0, Storey 1-6 1-2 3, Noel 1-3 2-2 4, Sessions 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-83 21-28 78.

Three-point attempts - Denver 4-13 (Roberson 2-4, Smith 1-1, Wafer 1-3, B.Jones 0-1, Anthony 0-2, Diawara 0-2), Milwaukee 3-14 (Bell 1-1, Ivey 1-2, Villanueva 1-4, Noel 0-1, Jianlian 0-1, Voskuhl 0-1, Williams 0-2, Storey 0-2). Fouled out - None. Rebounds - Denver 55 (Najera 9), Milwaukee 58 (Villanueva 8). Assists - Denver 20 (Iverson 6), Milwaukee 11 (Williams 3). Total fouls - Denver 27, Milwaukee 24. Technicals - Denver Defensive Three Second 3. Flagrant fouls - Storey. A - 6,349. (18,717).

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com Nuggets 104, Bucks 78

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