NEW YORK — The Nuggets were so low on shooting guards Saturday night, they had to play a point guard there.
Arron Afflalo (groin) and Rudy Fernandez (Achilles) sat out the game against the Knicks, so Denver coach George Karl inserted veteran playmaker Andre Miller into the starting lineup at shooting guard.
Entering the game, Miller was averaging 9.9 points and 6.3 assists.
Fernandez played only one half at Washington on Friday before aggravating his heel. Afflalo suffered his injury in the victory over the Wizards, causing him to miss Saturday’s game.
The Nuggets return to practice Monday and play Wednesday at Sacramento.
Afflalo had been struggling to find his shot after missing most of training camp while his new contract was negotiated.
The former UCLA star is averaging 12.1 points, but he has had some rough shooting nights.
Fernandez is averaging 8.3 points in his first season with the Nuggets.
Fernandez and Afflalo also have contributed good defense this season.
NBA treasure
Karl is a big fan of Madison Square Garden. It’s the NBA arena he cherishes the most.
Saturday was the Nuggets’ only game this season against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s a building that somehow — I don’t know how they do it — makes you feel like you’re on a Broadway stage,” Karl said. “It’s the energy from New York from my (playing) days.”
Karl brought up his sophomore season at North Carolina, when his team won the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s always been my favorite place,” he said.
The Garden underwent a major renovation last summer. In the past, the visiting team’s locker room was more like a closet — and the coach would do interviews with the media in a cramped hallway.
“And it would smell like elephants,” said Karl, referring to the circus that made annual appearances at the Garden.
