The injuries are so rampant this season, the Nuggets may just want to drop to their knees and pray. Then again, the way things are going, they had better drop slowly.
The latest injury, a bone bruise on Kenyon Martin’s right knee, should sideline Martin tonight against the Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center. But Denver is fortunate the injury wasn’t worse, because the starting forward returned this season following microfracture surgery on the same knee.
“We just know it won’t be a long-term thing,” Nuggets athletic trainer Jim Gillen said. “As far as when, it’s hard to say. But he was just relieved, as anybody would be.”
Reserve forward Linas Kleiza, who has a sprained left ankle, will be a game-time decision tonight. If he doesn’t play, that will make five Nuggets out with an injury — Nene (thumb), Chucky Atkins (groin) and Steven Hunter (knee).
“We can’t catch a break,” said Eduardo Najera, who probably will start at power forward despite a left fibula contusion.
Forward Carmelo Anthony, who walked slowly with “aching” in his body, said Monday felt like “a high school practice,” with only eight participants. Point guard Allen Iverson rested his body and didn’t practice, while reserve guard Von Wafer was out with the stomach flu.
Najera said he once suffered a bone bruise like Martin and said “it takes a long time — it’s really painful.” Martin could return Thursday at the Los Angeles Lakers, though the next couple of days should be more revealing.
After winning six consecutive games, the Nuggets (9-5) lost to the beleaguered Clippers on Wednesday, slipped by a bad Minnesota team on Friday and were blown out at Houston on Saturday, the night Martin injured his knee.
Nuggets coach George Karl said a main problem was his fast-paced team had slowed down, everting to half-court offenses. Kleiza runs the floor well and Martin is infectiously energetic, so their absence was noticeable.
Tonight, Denver hopes to rejuvenate against the Pacers, just like it did in the second half Nov. 10 at Indiana (6-8). The Nuggets trailed 74-56 at halftime, but Karl inspired the team with a profanity-laced speech, and they won the game 113-106, the second win of the six-game win streak.
Center Marcus Camby, who entered Monday as the NBA’s top rebounder averaging 15 per game, is Denver’s only active player taller than 6-feet-8. He understands his ability to clog up the paint is paramount tonight.
“We’ll have to go with a small lineup sometimes,” he said, “and guys not used to playing four will be playing out of position.”
Anthony will possibly play some power forward, where he will have to focus on rebounding more than in other games.
“I don’t look forward to playing power forward,” the small forward said. “But if I have to, I’ll be down there.”
Bobby Jones, a 6-7 guard and forward, might also spend time at the four spot, depending on Kleiza’s availability.
The Pacers could be without their former all-star power forward, Jermaine O’Neal, who is day to day because of a knee injury.
INDIANA AT DENVER
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Mike Dunleavy: The Pacers guard/forward and Duke product is averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game, currently besting his 13.4 from 2004-05. And his 5.9 rebounds are equal to a career-high from 2003-04. In the Nuggets’ win at Indiana on Nov. 10, Dunleavy tallied 17 points and six rebounds, while making two 3-pointers.
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: The Nuggets started last season 9-5 as well, and won their 15th game. The Nuggets have brought in Stacey Augmon to be a player development coach. The 15-year NBA veteran was in Nuggets camp as a player this preseason. “Everybody has a different feel, and I liked his feel in training camp,” Denver coach George Karl said. “His presence, for lack of a better phrase, he has a strong quietness to him. And I think that would be good for our locker room.”
Pacers: Forward Danny Granger scored 21 points against Cleveland on Sunday, his third consecutive game with 20-plus points. Center Jeff Foster leads Indiana with 9.0 rebounds per game, and he has led the team in each of the past six games.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
