After Linas Kleiza didn’t play in Denver’s final game of the first round, Nuggets coach George Karl suggested that Kleiza would play more in the Dallas series because of his ability to run the floor and knock down the 3-pointer. But after playing only seven scoreless minutes in the first game, he played just six Tuesday, scoring four points, missing two 3-point attempts.
Entering Game 2, Karl said Kleiza hadn’t played much because of “just my feel of the game.”
It’s noted that Denver’s “other” small forward, Carmelo Anthony, played 42 minutes Tuesday. And Kleiza has struggled defensively at times this season and has been overmatched, notably when Dirk Nowitzki pushed him down in the low post.
In the regular season, Kleiza averaged 22.2 minutes per game and 9.9 points.
Going small.
The NBA’s slogan is “where amazing happens,” and Karl couldn’t agree more after forward Kenyon Martin was fined $25,000 for a flagrant foul Sunday in Game 1 against Nowitzki.
In the second quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday, Martin and the Mavericks’ Ryan Hollins were called for double technicals when they got tangled up when Martin was going up for a dunk. Martin said the fine didn’t change the way he played Tuesday.
“It didn’t change nothing. I just don’t understand it,” Martin said. “I’ve watched a lot of playoff games since the playoffs have been going on since the 18th or 19th of April. I watched a lot of games, and I’ve seen things a lot worse that nobody got fined for. Just because I have a history maybe, in the past of playing harder, I just don’t feel like it’s fair.
“Of course I’m going to appeal it because I don’t think it’s fair whatsoever.”
Martin had received a technical foul for the play in Game 1, but that was rescinded, and now he has three in the postseason. Seven would lead to a one-game postseason suspension.
Praise for Melo.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said of Anthony: “He’s gotten better every year, his overall game. The Olympic experience is certainly something that’s helped all these guys. Jason Kidd played for them, and he raved about the experience, and you can see the growth in so many of these guys. The commitment to the country is also an investment in your own game, own career.
“So many guys have viewed it as a negative thing — I don’t want to get too tired, too run down or whatever. But you don’t see any of that residual stuff this year. I don’t see LeBron James slowing down . . ..”
Chris Dempsey and Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
