The flu bug bit Nuggets guard Earl Boykins on Tuesday.
Boykins missed Tuesday night’s home game against the Chicago Bulls because of a stomach virus. The 5-foot-5 point guard called the Nuggets on Tuesday morning to tell him of his ailment.
Boykins went to a local hospital to receive an IV, but it wasn’t enough to improve his health to the point he could play. Boykins did not take the team flight to San Francisco for tonight’s game against Golden State, but could take a morning flight there today if he is feeling better.
“He called (in the) morning and said he had an awful night,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “He went to the doctor at 11:30 and got some IVs, but it didn’t help.”
Boykins’ departure left the Nuggets with one point guard, starter Andre Miller, against the Bulls. Denver’s third point guard, Julius Hodge, has not played this season because of an infection in his left foot but said he expects to begin practicing Nov. 30. The Nuggets’ emergency point guard is DerMarr Johnson.
Asked if he will play first for Denver or the NBADL’s Colorado 14ers this season, Hodge said: “I don’t know right now. I’ll find out when it gets in the papers.”
French connection
Nuggets swingman Yakhouba Diawara, a native of Paris, wasn’t able to try out for the French national team for the 2006 world championships in Japan because he was focused on making an NBA roster. His gamble resulted in a two-year contract with the Nuggets. But Diawara said French coach Claude Bergeau left him a message last week stating he would like to visit with him in December about joining next year’s national team during a trip to the United States. France will be playing in an Olympic qualifying tournament from Sept. 3-16, 2007.
“If they need me, why not play?” Diawara said. “It depends on what is going on with the team here, too. So we’ll see.”
Footnotes
Nuggets center Nene, who did not play Tuesday, has missed the past five games because of a right knee contusion. He is not sure if he will return this month. “My hope is that he sees there is a great opportunity for him right now to become the player he wants to become,” Karl said. “The opportunity is to get in the lineup as quick as possible and to get him defining a personality, with him being a pillar of our team.” Karl declined to predict a date for Nene’s return. … In honor of their 40-year anniversary, the Nuggets will wear their jersey from the 1967-68 season (Denver Rockets) against Indiana on Dec. 2, Utah on Feb. 23 and at Golden State on March 7. … Golden State guard Baron Davis (right rib muscle) is a game-time decision for tonight. Forwards Zarko Cabarkapa (back) and Ike Diogu (left ankle) are on the Warriors’ inactive list. … Warriors guard Monta Ellis has scored 31 points in each of the past two games. … The Warriors are using a small lineup with Michael Pietrus and Jason Richardson at forward.
