With his Nuggets banged and bruised (bodies and, in Carmelo Anthony’s case, ego), coach George Karl shook up his lineup Thursday.
Against division rival Portland, forward Kenyon Martin didn’t start for Denver, resting his strained lower back.
“It seems like when he plays, it tightens,” Karl said. “Rest might be the only cure.”
Martin is day-to-day and questionable for tonight’s key game at Utah, where Denver could use his brawny body.
Martin played through visible pain in Denver’s last game at Detroit, making just three shots on 13 attempts. Reserve Johan Petro started in his place. Also, Karl decided to start J.R. Smith at shooting guard — it was Smith who kept Denver afloat in the Detroit game, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Dahntay Jones came off the bench.
Anthony Carter, Denver’s beleaguered reserve point guard, took the evening off to rest his strained left hip.
This was the first game Denver was able to activate the recently acquired Jason Hart, who Karl said “defends hard, very quarterback-oriented. He’s always struggled making shots, but he’s gotten better.”
Weems to D-League.
Reserve rookie guard Sonny Weems said that after tonight’s game, he will join the Colorado 14ers in the NBA’s Development League and will likely stay there until March 27.
“It’s something that I need to do,” said the Arkansas product, who averages 1.4 points per game and generally just plays in garbage time. “I talked to George, and he said right now, it would be the best move for me. He just really wants me to play right now. And then he said when I come back, he’ll be looking for me.”
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
