Not only did Linas Kleiza return to the Nuggets on Tuesday, he returned to Denver’s starting lineup.
Kleiza missed two games with a sprained left ankle, suffered in last Wednesday’s loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. With power forwards Kenyon Martin and Nene also injured, the recovering Kleiza started at the four against Indiana on Tuesday.
“I don’t think I’m basing my decision to play on if other people are hurt,” Kleiza said. “It feels good. I’m definitely going.”
He jumped out to a great start, scoring 10 points in the first half, while playing 18 minutes; he entered the game averaging 10.3 points per game.
The 6-foot-8 Kleiza started two other times this season, scoring 15 points in a loss at New York and going scoreless in 21 minutes the next night at Boston.
No K-Mart. As expected, Martin did not play against the Pacers with a bruised bone in his right knee, but coach George Karl said: “We’re very hopeful” that Martin will play in Denver’s next game, Thursday at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Martin, who is returning this season from right knee surgery, bruised his knee Saturday in Houston.
He is playing limited minutes this month, averaging 22.2 minutes per game — compared with his career average of 32.6 — while scoring 8.6 points with 4.9 rebounds.
Nuggets catch a break. While Martin was out, Pacers power forward Jermaine O’Neal also took the night off, resting his injured knee. Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said O’Neal could have played, but wanted to rest more before making his comeback.
“He wants to be in great shape,” O’Brien said, “and we don’t walk the ball up the court. We want him to be able to play on all cylinders when he’s ready. And we think he will be soon.”
O’Neal, who averages 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, hasn’t played since Nov. 20, but the Pacers entered Tuesday’s game as winners of two of the previous three games since he left the lineup.
