Seventy-nine seconds into the first preseason game, Al Harrington was writhing on the court, his evening over.
And he thought it would be the altitude that might bring him down.
Instead, the new Nuggets power forward re-injured his left foot, which had plantar fasciitis for much of the summer. Harrington, listed as day-to-day, had already missed five weeks of workout time this summer due to the injury.
“I don’t think Al’s going to be out for a long time, but in the exhibition season he’ll miss some games,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “He’ll have an MRI (today).”
Karl started Harrington at power forward Friday, filling in for Kenyon Martin, who could be out for a couple months recovering from knee surgery. But Karl stressed before the game that this move doesn’t anoint Harrington as the opening-night starter.
“We’re trying to figure out who has the best rhythm with each other,” Karl said, “and we have a starting position that’s wide open.”
Shelden Williams, the other power forward Karl considered starting, played like it was Duke versus North Carolina A&T. The former Blue Devil scored 21 points with 14 rebounds in Denver’s 109-99 win.
With Martin out — and center Chris Andersen too — players such as Harrington, Williams and even Renaldo Balkman could have ample opportunity to snag playing time.
“(In the past), I’ve been in a routine of playing 8-9 guys in a rotation,” Karl said. “But the four position has an interesting face. How we fill those 48 minutes will be something. And also how we back up Nene is wide open also, so that’s 65 minutes a game that are yet to be determined.”
Reunion. One minute before Friday’s national anthem, the old friends spotted one another and hugged.
Normally, when opposing NBA coaches greet one another, it’s more of a formality. But this was different. Denver’s Karl was back on the bench, after his bout with cancer, and he was opposing one of his favorite former players, current Portland coach Nate McMillan.
“It’s good to have him back,” McMillan said. “He’s a fighter. And a very confident coach. Behind closed doors, you just don’t know what type of a fighter he is, unless you played for him or coach for him. He’s a fierce competitor. That man is all about fighting. And he has a great basketball mind. He’s good for the game”
