Anthony, the league's leading scorer, said after the morning shootaround that his bruised right knee is healed enough to play Monday night.
"I'm really not feeling any pain," Anthony said. "It's good to be back out there."
Anthony, who is averaging 30 points a game, banged up his knee Dec. 28 at Sacramento and has missed the last five games.
He was hoping to make it back in time for the much-hyped matchup with LeBron James last Friday. But he wasn't ready, watching from the bench in a fashionable suit as his team knocked off Cleveland. Anthony then sat out the game in Sacramento the next night to give the knee more time to heal.
The extra rest has done wonders, although Anthony wouldn't put a percentage on how healthy he is.
"The area where it's bruised at, it can't get any worse," said Anthony, whose team went 3-2 in his absence. "Maybe if something hit it or something like that. Pretty much, I'm not feeling any pain. Last week, I was feeling pain when I was trying to jump and trying to get my first step going."
Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis just grinned when he was asked to assess the problems Anthony presents on the court.
"You mean besides his ability to create his own shot, pass to his teammates, post up, hit 3-point shots, go one-on-one, drive and cause foul situations," Rambis said. "Besides all those?"
Besides all those.
"Obviously, he's playing at a very high clip," Rambis said. "He's one of the elite players in the league."
The injury-plagued Nuggets are beginning to return to full strength. The only player questionable for the game Monday is rookie guard Ty Lawson, who is still hampered by a sprained left ankle. He remains a game-time decision.
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