Thursday, a day simply known as The Day After 33, Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and coach George Karl talked about lessons learned from record-setting scoring.
“I don’t think we need to get him more shots,” Karl said. “I think we need to make him make more shots. I told him (Thursday) morning the big thing, the foundation, of having a big night, is still 10 free throws a game. And he got that last night along with making the other things happen.”
Anthony was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line, en route to 45 points against Minnesota, 33 of which were scored in the third quarter. It was the sixth time he has taken at least 10 free throws in a game this season. Each time, he scored at least 21 points and three times, including Wednesday night, resulted in his highest point totals of the season.
Anthony, who is third after in early All-Star Game balloting behind Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudemire, smiled as he talked about the night again. He watched the game film and dubbed the performance “quite impressive.”
Anthony said he hadn’t felt that way on a basketball court since scoring 49 points in a game at Washington last season.
“But that game was even different, too,” he said. “That game was throughout the whole game. (Wednesday) night was just that one quarter. I never did anything like that or felt that way in one quarter.”
Anthony said his right elbow continues to bother him and that it was “hard” to shoot free throws, but he insists he will not take a day off to help it heal.
“As long as I keep hitting and bumping it I don’t really think it can get any better,” Anthony said. “When I dove on the floor, I hit it on the floor. I came down and hit my elbow trying to run through a screen. Things like that, I don’t really think it can progress. The only thing I can do is keep getting treatment and hope it gets better.”
Kenyon to return? Karl said forward Kenyon Martin, who has missed two games with a left wrist sprain, may play Saturday when the Nuggets face Golden State.
“I would hope so,” Karl said. “He did some running and some shooting (Thursday). Hopefully he’ll be on court for practice (today) and be ready to go, and get him back not only for Golden State, but I think the next six games after Golden State are as hard as games as we’ll play all season long.”
Those six are at Dallas and at Houston, back home against Cleveland, at Phoenix and then a back-to-back home-and-road set against Portland.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
