Sacramento, Calif. – Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony officially declared Sunday that he and coach George Karl are back on good terms.
The two had a discussion Saturday night about comments Karl made to The Denver Post last week. Karl said Anthony’s play had to improve or he would be benched. Anthony remained upset about the statements days later, prompting the two to talk this weekend.
“It was a good talk,” Anthony said. “He answered a lot of questions that I had. And now I see things a little bit clearer.”
Said Karl: “It’s basketball, baby. It’s basketball. Today is a new day. … He had a good approach last night and had a good walkthrough today.”
Anthony scored 29 points in the Nuggets’ win over Sacramento. “I think he wants me to play like this,” said Anthony, referring to Karl. “There’s a lot of things being said about me and Coach, about him and me having problems. I don’t really think there’s any problems. I’ve been with coaches where we have problems, and this don’t come close to any of those problems.”
Iverson appeal
Guard Allen Iverson said he plans to appeal a first-quarter technical foul given to him by referee Ron Garretson.
Iverson was given a technical foul after picking up his third personal foul with 6:25 left in the first quarter.
“I just said ‘Oh!’ and turned around and ran to the bench,” Iverson said. “I’d never think you would get a tech for anything like that. But I’m glad it was on national TV so the fans could see it. … I’ve gotten techs before, and out of all the techs that I’ve gotten, I probably deserved every last one except that one right there.”
Blake starts
Things returned mostly to normal for Nuggets point guard Steve Blake, who was back in the starting lineup Sunday.
“It felt good to have that opportunity again,” said Blake, who last started Feb. 20 against San Antonio.
Karl said he started Blake to help curtail the Nuggets’ ongoing turnover issues. That didn’t work. The Nuggets still had 20 turnovers.
Footnote
Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said he remains on schedule to play against the Lakers on Wednesday.
