Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups will miss at least one more game because of a strained left groin that has sidelined him for seven of the past eight games. Forward Carmelo Anthony (bruised right knee) hopes to be back tonight against Golden State.
In those eight games, the Nuggets are just 2-6. Billups' importance becomes clearer by the day because of how the team struggles when he's out.
Anthony, who is second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 30.0 points per game, is listed as day to day.
"I'm hopeful (for tonight's game)," Anthony said. "I think it was worse than everybody expected. The pain is little bit different; it was more of a deeper bruise than right there on the tip of the bone."
Anthony and Billups did some light work on the court Monday during their off day. Billups said with good practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday, it's possible he'll play in Friday's big matchup against Cleveland at the Pepsi Center. Rookie Ty Lawson will likely start at point guard tonight. Joey Graham has filled in for Anthony at small forward the past two games.
Birdman out.
Reserve center Chris Andersen (sprained left ankle) is out tonight, and quite possibly Friday and Saturday, coach George Karl said. Andersen suffered the injury during the second quarter of Sunday's home loss to Philadelphia. He is wearing a boot on his left foot. Andersen's backup is Malik Allen, who played nine minutes off the bench Sunday, scoring two points and committing three turnovers.
Tough to watch.
Whether it's getting through screens, shooting the ball or — no joke — even dribbling, J.R. Smith continues to struggle. In the 108-105 loss to Philadelphia, the reserve guard twice turned over the ball when he was called for palming. Defensively, it has been apparent Smith has difficulty fighting through screens. And on Sunday, he shot 4-for-12 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.
Since
Sign of hope.
Yes, the Nuggets have been hit hard recently by injuries. But consider this: When the Nuggets have Billups, Anthony, Kenyon Martin and Nene in the starting lineup, the team is 19-5. That's a .791 winning percentage. The only team in the NBA with a better overall winning percentage is the Lakers (.818).
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
Golden St. at Denver
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCKK 1510 AM
Spotlight on Stephen Curry: The Warriors' 6-foot-3 guard averages 11.7 points, fifth-best among rookies this season. He also averages 1.8 steals, first among first-year players, and 4.4 assists (third). But in the past three games, the Davidson product has totaled just four assists. He is the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry.
Nuggets: With Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony out with injuries, Nene and Kenyon Martin have been given opportunities to thrive offensively. Nene has scored 20-plus points in each of the past three games — the first time in his career he has done so. And Martin had 17 points and nine rebounds Sunday, one board shy of a fifth straight double-double. . . . The Nuggets had 27 assists against Philadelphia, the first time they have had 25 or more assists and lost. They are 9-1 in such situations. . . . The Nuggets are on a two-game home losing streak for the first time since February 2007.
Warriors: Golden State is just 3-16 on the road this season, including a 135-107 loss Dec. 1 at the Pepsi Center. In that game, Anthony Morrow scored a game-high (and season-high) 27 points. . . . The Warriors have lost their past four games at the Pepsi Center. . . . Guard Monta Ellis is sixth in the NBA with 25.7 points and second with 2.3 steals. . . . For his career, center Andris Biedrins averages 8.1 rebounds per game, but this season, he's averaging 6.3.
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