Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin made no promises about whether he would play in any of his team’s last three regular-season games, but said Thursday he is feeling better.
Coach George Karl said he hoped Martin would be able to practice today and face Sacramento on Saturday in what he called “like a playoff game.”
Martin, who has missed the past four games with the tendinitis in his left knee that has plagued him all season, predicted his pain tolerance would increase in the postseason.
“I have the whole summer to rest,” he said. “It’s mind over matter, mostly. Go out and play.”
The team also reported forward Eduardo Najera is feeling “much better” and should have the protective boot off his right foot by the end of the weekend. He will gradually return to activity.
Footnotes
Guard Julius Hodge reunited with his team Thursday after recovering from three gunshots to his left leg Saturday. He was unavailable for comment….
Karl on his team’s likelihood of starting the playoffs on the road: “I’m not an idiot. I know how home-court is statistically very valuable. I want to have a great run. You got to grow up in the playoffs. Somewhere along the way, you got to win on the road. I like our team on the road maybe as much or more than at home. Why? I’m not sure. It seems we’re more responsive, more respectful to the game. And I think we’ve played more consistently on the road.”…
NBA commissioner David Stern on Denver’s preseason game against Golden State in October in Monterrey, Mexico: “Monterrey is a great site for us with a relatively new building and a very good corporate and community base, and we’re excited to be coming to a different Mexican city.”
