Martin's MRI reveals bone bruise, strain

By Aaron J. Lopez

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

According to trained medical professionals, Kenyon Martin is bad to the bone.

In relative layman terms, that's a good thing.

From owner Stan Kroenke's penthouse offices to the second- level practice court to the ground-floor training room, there were sighs of relief throughout the Pepsi Center on Monday when Martin received the diagnosis on his injured right knee.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam revealed Martin has a bone bruise on his tibia that likely will keep him out of tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers. He also has a knee strain, but the Nuggets are hoping he can return by the end of the week.

"He was relieved as anyone would be who's had the buzzard's luck that he's had," athletic trainer Jim Gillen said.

Given Martin's history of knee problems the past two years, there was reason for concern when he left Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets.

Martin underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in May 2005 and needed the same procedure on his right knee last November.

"At halftime (Saturday), I saw him on the training table and I was like, 'Oh, man, what's going on?' " Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said after practice Monday. "He was like, 'I've got to get an MRI.' I was hoping it was nothing major."

Though Martin is not expected to miss a significant number of games, Gillen said it is difficult to predict how quickly a bone bruise will heal.

Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera said he suffered the same injury after knee surgery during the 2005-06 season. He missed five games in a two-week stretch and experienced pain during the games he did play.

"It takes a long time (to heal) and it's really painful, especially coming after knee surgery on that knee," Najera said. "A lot of people, they hear 'bruise' and think he's fine, but it's a bone bruise and those are pretty tough."

Najera, nursing a bruised left leg of his own, likely will be in the starting lineup tonight as the Nuggets try to compensate for injuries to forwards Martin, Nene (sprained left thumb) and Linas Kleiza (sprained left ankle).

Four other players, including starting point guard Allen Iverson (minor aches and pains), did not practice Monday, leaving coach George Karl with eight healthy bodies. Assistant coaches Jamahl Mosley and John Welch filled the two vacancies when needed.

"It was like a high school practice," Anthony said.

Without power forwards Martin and Nene, the Nuggets have only one healthy player taller than 6-foot-8. That would be center Marcus Camby, who could make a run at Dikembe Mutombo's franchise-record 31 rebounds in a game.

Camby leads the NBA in rebounding and has grabbed at least 20 four times this season.

"I'm ready to take on more of a load if needed," he said. "I'm always ready to play bigger minutes."

Depending on how long Martin's injury lingers, the Nuggets might have to consider bringing in a big man. That would mean bad news for point guard Mike Wilks, who is expendable now that Anthony Carter has returned from a broken right hand.

"I love Mike," Karl said. "But, obviously, we've got to make some decisions on our roster if we have some serious injuries."

Pacers at Nuggets

* When: 7 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

* TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

* Starting lineups

Indiana (6-8) Pos. Ht. Pts.

33 Danny Granger F 6-9 18.8

3 Troy Murphy F 6-11 12.6

10 Jeff Foster C 6-11 6.9

11 Jamaal Tinsley G 6-3 13.7

17 Mike Dunleavy G 6-9 15.4

Coach:

Jim O'Brien

Denver (9-5) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 25.2

21 Eduardo Najera F 6-8 6.3

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 9.9

3 Allen Iverson G 6-0 23.6

5 Yakhouba Diawara G 6-7 4.7

Coach:

George Karl *

Injuries: Indiana - F Ike Diogu (torn left calf muscle) is out; F Jermaine O'Neal (sore left knee) is questionable. Denver - G Chucky Atkins (strained right groin), C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery) and F Nene (sprained left thumb) are out; F Linas Kleiza (sprained left ankle) is questionable; F Kenyon Martin (bruised right knee) is doubtful.

* Notes: One month after being waived by the Nuggets during training camp, Stacey Augmon has rejoined the team as a player-development coach. "He had a good presence to him in training camp," Karl said. "I like his quiet strength." . . . The Pacers are looking for payback after the Nuggets erased a 25-point first-half deficit to beat them Nov. 10.