DALLAS — Reserve guard Von Wafer arrived at American Airlines Center one hour after the first team bus left the hotel for Thursday night’s game at Dallas after being involved in a car accident earlier in the day.
Upon arrival, Wafer didn’t want to discuss the situation, saying, “I’m not going to talk about it.”
He did say he was not at the wheel of the car and said he didn’t have to make a trip to the hospital.
Asked before the game about the situation, Nuggets coach George Karl said he didn’t have any information on it.
“I hope he’s OK,” Karl said. “I think he’s OK.”
Wafer was averaging 1.3 points, shooting .333 from the field, coming into Thursday night’s game.
Camby scoring down.
It may be nitpicking, given Marcus Camby’s role on the team is primarily defense and rebounding, but the Nuggets’ center has taken a huge hit in the scoring and shooting departments this season.
Camby’s average of 8.8 points going into Thursday is nearly 2 1/2 points less than last season’s average of 11.2. His field-goal percentage is 44.6, down from 47.3 last season. His free-throw percentage is 58.3, down from 72.9.
“I think all players, they don’t want to lose touches, they don’t want to lose shots,” Karl said. “I think it’s been a combination of he’s in a slump, he’s not making a lot of shots, so I think he’s a little less aggressive.”
On the flipside, Camby’s rebounding numbers are off the charts and by far the best of his career. He entered Thursday averaging 14.9 rebounds per game and had six games of 20 or more rebounds. To put that in perspective, New Orleans center Tyson Chandler led the NBA in 20-plus rebound games last season with five in 73 games. Camby’s total came in the first 19 games.
“I told Marcus two years ago, there’s two guys in basketball that can score zero and still be the best player on court: you and Ben Wallace,” Karl said. “He has shown that to me.”
Footnotes.
Karl and forward Eduardo Najera wore microphones for TNT for the game. Linas Kleiza said he has not practiced in two weeks as he recovers from a sprained left ankle. He said he reinjured the ankle in Sunday’s game against Miami but insists it will improve soon.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
