Kenyon Martin was back on the sideline Wednesday because of his back.
The Nuggets power forward tried to tough it out Monday, playing 24 minutes, but his back tightened up and he sat out the fourth quarter. Against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, he was in street clothes for the fourth time in five games.
Fan favorite Renaldo Balkman started in his place and promptly scored eight points in the first quarter.
Asked if it was possible Martin might be done for the season, Denver coach George Karl asserted: “No, I don’t think so. My thing is, it makes sense sitting out tonight’s game because it gives him another three days to see where it is and what we need to do, and hopefully see some progress.”
Denver did welcome back Anthony Carter to the rotation. The reserve guard hadn’t played since March 3 because of a left hip strain. And center Nene said his injured right knee is feeling better, but the quadriceps still bothers him.
Old friend.
Former Karl assistant Scott Brooks is now the Thunder’s interim coach, and Karl said he always felt Brooks had the “personality” of an NBA head coach.
“I think he’s in a tough situation and kept his team focused, kept his team playing hard, which if I was running this team, I’d put down notes that it’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s getting your team to play the right way and play hard. And he’s done that with Oklahoma City.”
Brooks said he learned a lot under Karl, notably mental toughness and “not sweating the small stuff.”
Thunder star Kevin Durant said he hopes Brooks loses the interim tag: “I would love for him to be our coach. Hopefully, it works out that way.”
More old friends.
Former Nugget Robert Pack was in attendance — he’s an assistant for the D-League’s Rio Grand Valley Vipers. Former Nuggets coach and player Dan Issel also was at the game. And Chucky Atkins, traded for Johan Petro in January, made his return to Denver. “I don’t have hard feelings or ill will towards the people in Denver. It was a business decision. They needed to save money. They felt like George wasn’t going to play me because of my (injury) situation. It’s just another game.”
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
