SALT LAKE CITY — There is no doubt the Nuggets’ effectiveness on defense is negatively impacted with injured guard Anthony Carter and forward Kenyon Martin unable to play. Both missed their second straight game Friday night.
Martin (low back strain) isn’t sure when he’ll return, and Carter (strained hip) says he should return after this two-game road trip.
“It should be maybe another game, and then I should be ready,” Carter said.
Both players said they made the decision to sit out for the same reason — they felt they weren’t helping the team. A disappointed Martin said he went as far as to tell teammates why he shouldn’t be on the court right now.
“I haven’t been right,” Martin said. “I haven’t been playing in the fourth quarter because I haven’t been helping the team. Like I told the guys, I’m not helping them out (with) me being out there not being healthy.”
Martin said he’s been doing core-strengthening work as part of his rehab with Nuggets strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess. He originally injured the back during the Orlando game Feb. 11.
Martin said he’d rather take all the time he needs during the regular season to be healthy for the playoffs than push it and play hurt through the rest of the regular season and postseason.
“Yeah, just make sure I’m healthy,” Martin said. “I’m not assuming it’s going to be that long.”
Carter said once pain subsides when he walks, he’ll know it’s time to return. He anticipates that will occur Monday.
“I probably just fell down too hard and didn’t even realize it and never paid attention to it until I just really couldn’t move at all,” Carter said.
Footnotes.
The Nuggets formally announced sending guard Sonny Weems back to the Colorado 14ers. . . . Center Johan Petro started his fifth game with the Nuggets on Friday night.
Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
