Nuggets coach George Karl is contemplating whether to put Linas Kleiza back in the starting lineup for Monday’s noon game at Houston. With Carmelo Anthony out (broken hand), Karl first started Kleiza but then opted for J.R. Smith. But in Denver’s most-recent game — Saturday’s home loss to Orlando — Kleiza scored a team-high 26 points, while Smith shot 2-for-13 (in his past four games, he has shot 12-for-58, 20.7 percent).
“We’re thinking about trying to figure out how to get J.R. playing a little more fluid,” Karl said after Sunday’s practice at Pepsi Center. “Maybe with his minutes off the bench, there’s a different rhythm to his game, starting or coming off the bench. Sometimes as a coach, when you start a game, you’re trying to get everyone feeling good about the game, but when you come off the bench there’s only one or two priorities. Sometimes there’s more priorities early in the game than coming off the bench.”
Karl said he is also considering backup point guard Anthony Carter as a possible starter. The Nuggets are 1-1 against Houston this season.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
