LOS ANGELES — When Eduardo Najera sighs and admits he can’t play, he must really be hurting. The Denver reserve forward has earned a reputation of playing through injuries, most recently the hyperextension in his right elbow.
But on Monday, Najera said he couldn’t go.
“I’m going to give it time,” he said.
One of the reasons Najera felt he could rest was because of Kenyon Martin’s return from injury. Martin started against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday after missing three games with a staph infection. Martin played extremely well early, scoring 14 points in the first half.
“I’m just glad to be back out. I don’t like sitting out,” Martin said. “I like being in the game environment. I haven’t had too much practice time. I feel good enough to play, and the soreness is pretty much gone.”
As for Najera’s admission that he couldn’t play, even coach George Karl couldn’t believe it, saying before the game that Najera would play.
“Who says he’s not available?” Karl said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll try to talk him into playing.”
But in the locker room before the game, Najera showed reporters his elbows, and the right one wasn’t bending.
“That’s my main concern, that (by playing) I’d drag it out for an extra week when I can get rid of (the injury) in a couple days,” Najera said.
Super fans
Like two barstool fans at Chopper’s in Cherry Creek, Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson screamed at the television in the Denver locker room.
“Come on, Jonny!” Anthony said.
“He’s going to get it blocked!” Iverson said.
Before the Lakers-Nuggets game, the two watched their alma maters play on television. In overtime, Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer over Georgetown’s Jeremiah Rivers, and Iverson’s alma mater won 64-62.
“You hear my cellphone!” said Iverson, a proud Hoya. “Everyone’s calling.”
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
