The injured left ankle that kept Carmelo Anthony on the floor for minutes early in his team’s loss to New Jersey Monday does not appear to be serious.
A magnetic resonance imaging test confirmed today what X-rays suggested Monday – that Anthony has nothing more than a sprain and could be back by the weekend. He had minimal swelling today and will wear a protective boot, but trainer Jim Gillen said the injury was unrelated to the sprains on both ankles the small forward suffered in 2004-05.
“He told me that it doesn’t compare to last year’s,” Gillen said.
The Nuggets do not expect him to play Wednesday against the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Coach George Karl said he might be back for Denver’s game Friday at Phoenix or its home date Saturday with Miami.
“It sounds very optimistic. I’m definitely relieved,” Karl said.
Oddly enough, the same thing happened to Anthony this time last year. He sprained his right ankle Nov. 27 at Houston and missed the Nuggets’ Nov. 29 home game against the Hornets.
Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or at athompson@denverpost.com.
