Memphis, Tenn. – When Earl Boykins missed six games in December with a hamstring injury, the Nuggets plugged in Earl Watson at the point.
In a predictable turn, Watson can’t help now because Denver traded him to shore up health-related deficiencies at forward with Ruben Patterson and Reggie Evans.
Now with Boykins out four to five weeks with fractured third and fourth metacarpals in his left (nonshooting) hand, the Nuggets are just relieved they signed point guard Howard Eisley instead of a shooting guard.
“It was very fortuitous that we had Howard with us,” general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. “It’s interesting, because we’ve had an amazing amount of injuries. But it seems to have worked out, getting Reggie and getting Ruben and guys mixing and matching.”
Dr. Steve Traina said Boykins, who was injured in the Nuggets’ win Wednesday at Indiana, will not need surgery. He will wear a cast and begin shooting next week with hopes of returning for the playoffs.
That leaves Eisley, with the team since March 3, as the only experienced true point guard to back up Andre Miller. The Nuggets also recalled rookie Julius Hodge from the NBA Development League.
Coach George Karl said Carmelo Anthony, Greg Buckner, DerMarr Johnson and Patterson might do some ball-handling. Karl also might burn timeouts to buy extra rest for Miller, who averages nearly 37 minutes per game.
“If we lost Andre or Earl, we didn’t have a real solution to that,” Karl said. “So the solution now is to play Andre a lot of minutes. We’ve already worn Andre down. I’m not saying his gas tank’s empty, but the time in January and February when we were playing him 40 minutes a night, he started slowing down some in February.”
Vandeweghe would not speculate on Eisley’s future, but it stands to reason the Nuggets will re-sign him when his 10-day contract expires Wednesday, meaning they would keep him for the rest of the regular season.
The 33-year-old veteran possesses Boykins’ speed, but Karl said the Nuggets will do what they have done all year – adjust to their healthy players. Eisley played sparingly in his 13-game stint with the Los Angeles Clippers this season.
Another disadvantage for Eisley is Denver has practiced only twice since he signed.
“I think everybody needs some practice time to keep your skills current and stay sharp, get more familiar with guys,” he said after a four-man workout Thursday.
Hodge arrived in Memphis on Thursday morning from Fayetteville, N.C., leaving the NBDL’s team from Austin, Texas, for which he averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Karl said the rookie would be at the “bottom of the totem pole,” but earned the right to return and may work into defensive pressure schemes.
Hodge learned a few things in the minors.
“Being able to run a team down in Austin just helped me to see the floor better as a point guard, just be a general out there on the court and get in some game situations to work my jump shot,” he said.
Johnson, who has sat for long stretches, should see a share of Boykins’ minutes.
“Wherever I can play,” he said. “I’ll play the five.”
If any more injuries hit Denver, nothing would be out of the question.
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
NOTEBOOK:
5K AT 21: By scoring three points tonight, forward Carmelo Anthony will become the second-youngest player to reach 5,000 career points in NBA history. He would trail Cleveland’s LeBron James, who reached that number Jan. 21. “Offensively, both LeBron and Melo have had a great opportunity to be the guy on their teams early in their careers,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “You’re seeing it with (Dwyane) Wade at Miami, too. They’ve adapted faster than players of the past.”
FOOTNOTES:
Karl said he was not sure if forward Kenyon Martin (left knee) would play tonight. Eduardo Najera (right knee) will be available tonight. … The Nuggets struck a deal with Karl to scratch practice Thursday in exchange for a longer shootaround today. Denver has not practiced since March 8, the day the Nuggets embarked on their current seven-game road trip. “We’ve been winning with ignoring the gym a little bit,” Karl said.
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DENVER AT MEMPHIS
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