The Great Wall of Camby is daunting, nearly 7 feet tall and difficult to get around. But it needs mortar. And against San Antonio last month, Denver played without a power forward, Kenyon Martin and Nene unavailable. Center Marcus Camby tried to defend the paint without his wingmen, which he has done successfully at times but against the defending champions, the wall tumbled.
In the 102-91 loss, the defending defensive player of the year had just six rebounds, a season low. Camby guarded all-star power forward Tim Duncan, while numerous reserve forwards were assigned to center Fabricio Oberto, who scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Tonight at the Pepsi Center, Martin and Nene are expected to play against the Spurs (21-8).
“Just having everybody back gives us more fouls to use, in case guys get in foul trouble, guarding against Duncan,” Camby said.
Martin is still bothered by a right hamstring strain, which sidelined him in four of the past five games, but coach George Karl said Martin will play. Nene returned from thumb surgery Dec. 26. Combined, they average 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds (5.9 each).
“Having as much post presence as we can have against the Spurs is needed,” Denver small forward Carmelo Anthony said. “We’ve got everybody back now. I don’t want to use that as an excuse (for the last game). But we’re going to go out there and bring it, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to bring it, too.”
This season, Martin and Nene have played in the same game just five times, and in each of the five, one of the players wasn’t 100 percent.
Martin began the season playing limited minutes as he recovered from knee surgery. Then Nov. 7, Nene severely injured his thumb. Nene’s first game back was Dec. 26 against Milwaukee. Martin played against the Bucks with his hamstring injury and hasn’t played since.
“So we’re in a mode of fitting everyone together,” Karl said. “I think we’re anxious for the month.”
Karl said Martin won’t be under any “minutes watch, but with Nene, Kenyon, Eddie (Najera) and Marcus, I don’t think we’re going to kill anybody (with too many minutes). We’re going to give everybody an opportunity.”
That should give the Nuggets a much better frontline than in the previous matchup against San Antonio. On that night, Nene was still out with the thumb injury and Martin was suspended, because of a flagrant foul from earlier in the week.
Tonight, Martin should be fueled playing in his first game back, while finally getting his chance against the Spurs. He also missed the playoff series last season because of a knee injury.
As for Nene, he has shown some glimpses of dominance in his three games back but has yet to have a breakout game. He had rebound totals of seven, six and eight, all in less than 20 minutes. But he’s made just five field goals.
“I think any player who misses games needs that one game of confidence — and I think he hasn’t gotten that yet,” Karl said. “He needs that game where he feels like he’s OK, ready to contribute. And I think that’s around the corner.”
Nene and Martin will be assigned to Duncan, while Camby will focus on Oberto. Karl said whomever he puts at power forward will guard Duncan one on one, but if Duncan starts to dominate, expect the Nuggets to try and double team him.
“And we’ll keep zone in our back pocket,” the coach said.
SAN ANTONIO AT DENVER
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Michael Finley: The veteran guard often rises up in games against Denver, shooting daggers from 3-point range. He scored a game-high 26 points in the first-round clincher against Denver last spring. “We knew he was capable, but we didn’t expect him to hit as many 3s in clutch situations,” Denver center Marcus Camby said. In the Nuggets’ first game this season against the Spurs, Finley tied for a game-high 21, including four 3-pointers, missing just one. He averages 10.4 points per game this season.
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: Forward Kenyon Martin is expected to play (hamstring). Guard Allen Iverson has not practiced this week, attending to family matters, but is expected to play tonight. Iverson scored a team-high 30 points in a game at San Antonio on Dec. 15. That night, forward Carmelo Anthony scored just 15 points, compared to his season average of 25.7 points per game, which is fourth-best in the NBA (Iverson is third with 26.3). Only Atlanta’s Joe Johnson (41.6) plays more minutes per game than Iverson (41.2).
Spurs: Guard Manu Ginobili, playing arguably his best basketball this season, is not expected to play tonight because of a sprained left index finger. And guard Brent Barry is out with a torn muscle in his left calf. In the game against the Nuggets, he made three 3s. Point guard Tony Parker will play. He missed the previous game against Denver. Parker averages 20.3 points per game, and is on pace to lead the Spurs in scoring for just the second time in his seven seasons. Former Nugget DerMarr Johnson signed with the Spurs on Dec. 29 and has played in one game, scoring two points in four minutes.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
