Tuesday's Nuggets report

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 24, 2007 at midnight

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Nene's debut

Nene finally returned, and he wasted no time.

In picking up fouls, that is.

The Nuggets big man made his preseason debut Tuesday night after missing the first five games because of a calf strain and was whistled for three fouls in the first 6 minutes, 2 seconds. Nene did settle down a bit, and the Nuggets beat Milwaukee 114-102 at the Pepsi Center.

Nene had six points, four rebounds and four fouls in 13 minutes. He's trying to round into shape for Denver's regular-season opener Oct. 31.

"I think there's a little rust there," said coach George Karl, whose team got 21 points from guard Allen Iverson. "But I think all of our guys wanted him back out there and to get him accustomed to the things he did last year on the court. He played well with the limited practice time he had on the court."

Nene started at center alongside power forward Kenyon Martin, who was playing in his second preseason game after returning from microfracture knee surgery in November. Martin had 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.

"It was hard to breathe out there," said Nene, who said it will be at least two weeks before he's in the kind of shape he would like.

Playing in his second preseason game, point guard Chucky Atkins, who has been bothered by a groin strain, started off slow but scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 15 points and six assists.

"I'm glad I got the opportunity," Atkins said. "I'm about 80 percent, but I'll be ready for the opener."

In addition to point guard Anthony Carter (broken hand), injured players who sat out were center Marcus Camby (back) and forward Eduardo Najera (foot sprain).

Nuggets make cuts

The Nuggets cut their roster to 14 players after the game Tuesday. Waived were Mike Wilks, Anthony Roberson, Brad Stricker, Jelani McCoy and Stacey Augmon, all of whom have nonguaranteed contracts.

The Nuggets, and other NBA teams, have to get down to 15 players by Thursday.

"He said I was caught up in a numbers game,'' said Wilks, who added that he was informed after the game by executive Rex Chapman that he was being let go after only five days with the team. The Nuggets will continue to scan the waiver wire.

Kleiza extension near

Herb Rudoy, agent for Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza, calls it a "no-brainer" that the team will pick up his client's 2008-09 contract option by the Oct. 31 deadline.

"I talked to Mark Warkentien (Denver's vice president of basketball operations) a couple of weeks ago, and he indicated they were going to do it," Rudoy said. "He said not to worry about it, and I haven't."

Kleiza's option for next season is for $1.82 million. After picking it up, the Nuggets could sign him to an extension next summer that would begin in 2009-10, or he would become an restricted free agent in summer 2009.

Warkentien declined comment.

Diawara fan

Karl said he has made no decision that Yakhouba Diawara will be his opening-night shooting guard. But it sure sounds as if he'll be given every opportunity.

"There's not a lot of time right now (before the opener), but now I think we can get away with more of a defensive-minded player, and (Diawara's) probably our best defender," said Karl, who started Diawara at shooting guard Tuesday.

Because of injuries at the point, Karl has said Iverson most likely will begin the season as the starting point, rather than shooting guard.

With all the injuries in the preseason, Karl admits he's a bit worried with the opener just a week away.

"The exhibition season starts on Oct. 31," he said. "Unfortunately, the first 10 count."

Etc.

• The Nuggets' preseason game Thursday at Phoenix will be televised live by TNT at 8 p.m. The network was to show Utah facing the Lakers in San Diego, but the game was canceled because of the wildfires in California.

• The Lakers might just keep 14 players that have guaranteed contracts, which could result in Karl's son, Coby, being waived. "If the worst happens, we'll figure it out and make the best out of it," his father said.

He said it

"I just think he's been impressive. I didn't know what he was before we got him. He was kind of a salary-cap-adjustment player."

Karl, on swingman Bobby Jones, who has a partially guaranteed contract but looks primed to stick with the Nuggets for a while.

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