CLEVELAND — The Nuggets were worried about Kenyon Martin’s wrist bumping against opposing players. It’s a good bet they didn’t worry about the rim.
Early in Thursday night’s game, the rim was Martin’s biggest danger, as he rattled in three seemingly pain-free dunks.
The Denver power forward didn’t play in Tuesday’s win at Charlotte and was a game-time decision Thursday. But he started out strong for the Nuggets, dunking his first three shots.
Martin said he didn’t feel any pain, and he finished with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in 36 minutes. He was ejected in the final minute for a flagrant-two foul.
“I felt good, man,” Martin said. “I didn’t have any setbacks, didn’t get it hit.”
Return trip.
Last season, Denver’s worst game was arguably last November at Boston. It was the second game of a back-to-back. This season, the Nuggets make their lone trip to Boston tonight, the third game in four days.
Asked about the obstacles the schedule-makers have presented his team, Karl said, “There are 10 games a year you go, ‘What the heck?’ and 10 games a year the other team you’re playing says, ‘What the heck?’ It usually balances out.”
Guards progressing.
Karl said Chucky Atkins (knee) and Sonny Weems (groin) are participating in running drills. Denver might not have another practice until Monday, though, because of the schedule.
Old jersey.
Denver native Chauncey Billups weighed in on important subject, notably: Which is the best jersey in Nuggets history? “Probably the one I used to see growing up, with Alex English and them, with the city and skyline,” Billups said. “That’s probably my favorite. That was classic. I like these too. I didn’t like the one with (Maxie the Miner) nor the one that I played in (back in 1998).”
LeBarry.
Before the game, Cleveland’s LeBron James sat at his locker, talking about how he always listens to rapper Jay-Z before games. When told the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony had some Barry Manilow on his iPod, James said, straight- faced: “I probably have a little bit of that.”
When pressed, he searched his iPod (at first, mistakenly for Brian Manilow), and sure enough, there was “Copacabana,” “I Am Your Child” and “Mandy.”
“I listen to everything,” James said, and he wasn’t lying.
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
