Nuggets report, January 14

The Rocky

Monday, January 14, 2008

Garrett Ellwood / Getty Images

It's looking more and more like Nene will not play with the Nuggets this season.

Surgery for Nene?

The specifics of Nene's health problem remain unknown, but indications are the Nuggets forward will have surgery sometime this week.

Nene's mother reportedly told a radio station in Brazil that her son was set to have surgery Tuesday in Denver. An NBA source acknowledged that surgery might be required but said it would not be performed Tuesday.

Because Nene has requested privacy while he takes a leave of absence from the team, speculation about his illness has been rampant, particularly in his native Brazil.

Nuggets coach George Karl said the team expects to have more information in the next few days.

"(Nene's) very private with his life, and that's the way he wants it," Karl said. "I think we have to respect that."

Nene's business manager, Alex Santos, did not return phone messages Sunday.

Hunter in waiting

With Nene out indefinitely, backup big man Steven Hunter could become more valuable.

Hunter, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Sept. 10, has spent most of the season recovering from knee surgery but returned to practice last week. He could be used in a pinch if forward Kenyon Martin or center Marcus Camby run into foul trouble early in games.

"Steven, I know he would like to make an impact," Camby said. "It's going to take him some time to get accustomed to things we do around here. He's slowly but surely inching his way into practice and learning the plays."

Aside from Hunter, Eduardo Najera is the only other Nuggets reserve who is a true power forward, though Carmelo Anthony is comfortable playing down on the low block.

Numbers game

151 games missed by Nene because of injury in his six NBA seasons. The 25-year-old missed only seven games in his first two seasons but has struggled to stay healthy since then. He has missed games because of injuries to his knees, hamstring, hip and thumb.

Numbers game II

17 players that Nuggets guard Allen Iverson has passed on the NBA career scoring list during the past two seasons. Next up is Hall of Fame forward Larry Bird, who scored 21,791 points in 13 seasons. Iverson, in his 12th season, needs 26 points to move past Bird to 22nd on the career list.

Feasting on the weak

Through 35 games, the Nuggets have done a good job of kicking sand in the face of NBA weaklings.

They are 12-3 against teams with sub-.500 records, which bodes well for the near future. Three of Denver's next four games are against teams with losing records.

"Our job is to stay focused against those kinds of teams with losing records because any day, they can beat us," point guard Anthony Carter said. "They can be 'on', and they can be tough."

The Boston Celtics, who boast the league's best record, at 30-5, can attest to that. They were beaten at home last week by the Charlotte Bobcats (13-23), who host the Nuggets tonight.

He said it

"Sometimes we think we're working for a living, but we're fortunate enough to play in a gym and play basketball for a living. It's a gift and it's a blessing. When someone gets an illness that has to be diagnosed and worked out, that scares you. It brings a totally different heaviness and fear than losing a basketball game."

Karl, on separating basketball from life in the wake of Nene's absence.

Nuggets at Bobcats

* When: 5 MST tonight.

* Where: Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, N.C.

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

* Starting lineups

Denver (22-13) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 25.4

4 Kenyon Martin F 6-9 9.5

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 9.0

3 Allen Iverson G 6-0 26.9

25 Anthony Carter G 6-2 8.5

Coach:

George Karl

Charlotte (13-23) Pos. Ht. Pts.

23 Jason Richardson F 6-6 20.0

3 Gerald Wallace F 6-7 20.7

50 Emeka Okafor C 6-10 12.8

20 Raymond Felton G 6-1 14.2

0 Jeff McInnis G 6-1 4.0

Coach:

Sam Vincent * Injuries: Nuggets - G Chucky Atkins (sports hernia) and F Nene (person medical issue) are out. Bobcats - Felton (sprained right ankle) and McInnis (strained right quadriceps) are probable; G Derek Anderson (bruised right knee), F Othella Harrington (sore left knee), F Sean May (right knee surgery) and Adam Morrison (torn left anterior cruciate ligament) are out.

* Notes: Felton and McInnis were not among the eight players Charlotte had available for its overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Both said they expected to return tonight. . . . The Nuggets are 7-0 this season when Iverson has at least 10 points and 10 assists. . . . Denver is 25th in the NBA in points allowed per game (103.6) but eighth in field-goal defense (44.5 percent). The Nuggets lead the league in steals, blocks and turnovers forced. . . . Okafor and Nazr Mohammed combined for 38 points and 28 rebounds Saturday. . . . The Nuggets are 8-0 when someone other than Anthony or Iverson scores at least 19. . . . Either Richardson or Wallace has led the Bobcats in scoring 22 of the past 24 games.