Before Denver’s game Friday against Minnesota, numerous Nuggets assistants warned coach George Karl to be careful with Chucky Atkins.
“We played him four minutes, and it was very obvious he was hurting,” Karl said.
The guard missed both shots, and he entered Sunday with an awful 24.5 field-goal percentage since returning from a groin injury last month.
Then, in the first half Sunday against Philadelphia, Atkins missed all four of his field-goal attempts in seven minutes.
Since his return nine games ago, Atkins has said numerous times that he is not 100 percent, and his groin is keeping him from exploding toward the basket with consistency. And while the long-range threat has hit a few key 3-pointers, he entered Sunday 10-for-39 (25.6 percent).
In regards to Atkins’ physical progress, “Right now, it’s definitely a night-to-night situation,” Karl said.
Making progress.
Reserve center Steven Hunter said he can return to action in one week. Hunter underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery Nov. 16 and has been inactive the past 24 games.
Threading the needle.
Nuggets guard Anthony Carter, coming off a game with a season-high 15 assists, made one of the smoothest dishes of the season Sunday. During a transition, Carter dribbled down the right side of the court, and he slipped a one-handed bounce pass through the defense into the hands of a streaking Eduardo Najera, who made a layup. Carter finished with 11 assists against the Sixers.
Shooting for a start.
Carmelo Anthony is second in the all-star voting for Western Conference forwards. If Anthony starts the game, he will be the first Denver all-star starter since forward Alex English in 1989. English started four All-Star Games. Swingman David Thompson had three starts. Center Dan Issel, forwards Bobby Jones, George McGinnis and guard Fat Lever each started one time.
