SALT LAKE CITY — Linas Kleiza will start in tonight’s the Nuggets’ season opener at Utah, in place of small forward Carmelo Anthony, who is suspended for the first two games of the season because of his DUI arrest in April.
Denver coach George Karl seriously considered reserve Dahntay Jones for the starting spot, but Karl decided he wants the defensive-minded Jones to come off the bench to guard Utah’s sharp-shooting reserve Kyle Korver.
Kleiza did score 41 points last season in a game against Utah (at Pepsi Center), but Karl said that game had no bearing on the decision to start Kleiza against the Jazz tonight. It is not certain whether Kleiza will start Denver’s next game, Friday at the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver then returns to the Pepsi Center for Saturday’s home opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
At Wednesday’s shootaround, Kleiza reiterated that his representation group is “close” to working out a contract with the Nuggets brass that will keep Kleiza with Denver until 2013. The deadline for a deal is Friday, otherwise Kleiza is a restricted free agent next summer.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
