Again, the Nuggets were without coach George Karl on the sideline.
Karl served the first of a two-game suspension without pay against the New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets on Wednesday for publicly criticizing and attacking the integrity of the officials. The NBA announced the punishment Wednesday afternoon, and the Nuggets don’t plan to appeal. Karl, who had no comment, will serve the second game of the suspension Friday at Phoenix and return to coach Saturday against Miami.
“I have to admit I was a little bit surprised on this one,” Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. “I did read the quotes, but we’re going to abide by the rules. I did talk to the NBA at length about it and talked to George. George was obviously very apologetic, and he didn’t mean any particular harm by his comments but realizes they are incorrect and wrong.”
The Nuggets went 0-2 when Karl was suspended the first two games of the season for illegally scouting NBA prospects during the offseason. Nuggets assistant Scott Brooks coached again in Karl’s absence.
After a 101-92 loss to New Jersey on Monday, Karl complained about flopping calls. Tuesday, he said the referees gave make-up free throws to the Nets in the fourth quarter and also complained about “touch fouls” and “cheap calls.”
“If you’ve known George for as long as I have, he’s nothing if not honest about what his opinions are,” Vandeweghe said. “Sometimes you do need to withhold your opinion a little bit. We did discuss that.”
Said Hornets coach Byron Scott: “I never talk about referees. I get all mine out during the game. If I disagree or complain about calls, I do it during the game. Once the game is over, I don’t focus on them as a reason we lost.”
The NBA fined Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy $100,000 during last season’s playoffs for questioning the integrity of the officials.
Melo hopeful for Phoenix
After missing his first game of the season Wednesday – a 102-95 loss to New Orleans/Oklahoma City – because of a sprained left ankle, Denver small forward Carmelo Anthony said he would try his best to play Friday at Phoenix.
“I hate watching games, especially when I could have been out there helping,” Anthony said. “Whatever way I can help, I would have helped.
“I’m going to try my best (to play Friday).”
Anthony said Wednesday morning that when he hurt his ankle Monday against New Jersey, he was worried at first because he thought he had heard a pop or a crack. But compared to the three times he sprained his ankle last season, he said, “It’s less severe. Last time it felt like it was broken all three times I did it. This year it wasn’t that bad.”
Footnotes
Nuggets guard Greg Buckner missed Wednesday’s game with inflammation in his left knee and is day to day. … The Nuggets’ March 22 game against San Antonio has been picked up by ESPN. The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
