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Melo to miss Nuggets' next 3 games with elbow injury

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 22, 2008 at 10:57 a.m.
Updated December 22, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.

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Carmelo Anthony will miss the Nuggets' next three games as he nurses an elbow contusion.

Photo by Brian Lehmann © The Rocky

Carmelo Anthony will miss the Nuggets' next three games as he nurses an elbow contusion.

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With his right elbow contusion continuing to bother him, the Nuggets will shut down star forward Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony won’t play tonight at home against Portland and Tuesday at Portland and likely also will sit out Friday at home against Philadelphia. The Nuggets hope he can return by Sunday at New York.

“That’s the game plan,’’ Nuggets coach George Karl said of Anthony returning Sunday. “There could be circumstances and situations that could make it longer and maybe shorter. The doctor feels that, if he shuts it down for three or four days, there could be significant improvement.’’

Anthony’s elbow has been bothering him since training camp, and especially over the past month. He averaged just 11.5 points the past two games while shooting just 8-of-27.

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said Anthony told the players in a meeting before Monday morning’s shootaround he would be sitting out.

“Over the last month, we have seen, if you watch him on film . . . you watch him grimace when he plays,’’ Karl said. “It’s a tough call. He wants to play. He’s still a good player, but he’s not playing to what we know he can do… I don’t want mentally for Melo to lose his edge, his confidence.’’

Karl said Anthony’s lead agent, Bill Duffy, was involved in the decision to shut him down.

“Bill Duffy was in Phoenix,’’ Karl said. “We talked to Bill. It was a group decision of doctors, Melo and coaching (staff) kind of all feeling like, ‘How do we get his edge back?’’’

Karl didn’t know who would start tonight in Anthony’s place.

“Of course, it’s a different challenge playing without your No. 1 option,’’ said Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups. “But it gives guys an opportunity to step up, and they can be successful in a bigger role.’’

Smith said the players didn’t know Anthony would sit out until he told them before the shootaround.

“He came up and told us,’’ Smith said. “He just said he couldn’t do it. He could play, but he’s not going to be at 100 percent… It’s really been hurting him since the beginning of the season. He just has to fight through it. It's just him being a great player and being able to get the job done. The last couple of games it looked like he was a forcing it a bit.''

Smith called Anthony's absence “real bad timing’’ with two games against Northwest Division rival Portland, but said, “We’re a family and we’re going to get through it together.’’

Anthony is averaging 20.5 points. Despite the injured elbow, he did score 45 points Dec. 10 against Minnesota, which included tying an NBA record with 33 points in a quarter.

Comments

  • December 22, 2008

    11:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ONEman writes:

    Boycott the Nuggets till they fire George Karl!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • December 22, 2008

    noon

    Suggest removal

    ccorrea writes:

    Wow, Well Karl your best bet is to have
    Nene , K-mart , Billup, Jr Smith and Balkman/ Kleiza
    Starting, Yes JR Smith ! To have a chance.
    Go with the Run and Gun most the game.

    GO Nuggets !!!!!!

  • December 22, 2008

    12:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ONEman writes:

    Bet Carters playtime will increase dramatically. Karl is an f'n moron.

  • December 22, 2008

    1:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    With back to back games against Portland, this is going to be a true test. Hopefully JR or Kleiza will come up big and score at least 20. JR has been hot lately.

  • December 22, 2008

    2:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Weeman writes:

    ^^We've already failed a test....If these 6 games in 9 nights are a measure of what it would be like in a 7 game playoff game, we would already be 1-3....We've played 4 playoff caliber teams in a row, and we've lost all but one.

    And i'm glad Melo is sittin out....He needs to collect his thoughts, and observe the game, because he's been playin mediocre...

    He misses FTs, he goes to the basket thinkin he;s goin to get fouled everytime, and his overall gameplay is mediocre.

    If I had to chance, I would challenge Melo and other nuggets players to a 3 pt contest or a game of horse....And I would prove that these guys are shooting like idiots.

  • December 22, 2008

    2:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    POTES writes:

    W/ melo out, let JR get his shine, he's not playing bad right now, he may take illadvissed shots when he feels he's not getting the ball enough, but the kid can go & most of the shots he takes are better than the ones melo throws up. Come on George take control of your team, from the bench, SMOOTH, will handle the situations on the floor.

  • December 22, 2008

    3:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wj_nugs writes:

    Is this the only way we will get to see Balkman play?
    When Melo was out last year against the Blazers, we played one of our best games. We lost in Portland down the stretch but they play inspired ball. Hopefully this will continue the next two nights...we shall see what this team is made of.

  • December 22, 2008

    4:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jsppro1 writes:

    Here we go Nuggets fan, 1 - 3, Antione Walker is still out there. he's can get you the same numbers K-Mart has been producing. He has a better jump shot too.

  • December 22, 2008

    5:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jrhino writes:

    Time for Kleiza to earn next years contract.