CHARLOTTE – looked to the scorer’s table and expected to see sitting there awaiting a stoppage in play.
But Millsap was in the back of the Spectrum Center getting his right foot examined after he smacked it hard against the court during an off-balance fall in the third quarter.
“I didn’t know he got taken to the back,” Morris said. “They told me he broke his toe when we got back here.”
A Nuggets spokesman said Millsap’s injury hadn’t been confirmed as of Friday night. Denver, which fell 113-107 to Charlotte on Friday, plays at Atlanta on Saturday.
Millsap fell hard after challenging Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the lane, and he didn’t return.
“Obviously, I really wasn’t even aware,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I think at first it was like he had a cut on his foot, and then he wasn’t able to come back in the game, so I’m sure there gonna give some images and results and update me as we go along.”
Millsap would mark the third Nuggets starter who’ll be out, along with (hip) and (hip surgery). Harris suffered the injury in Toronto on Monday night, and is day-to-day as the Nuggets gather more information. Barton is getting closer to a return following surgery in late October to repair hip and core muscles.
The Nuggets’ depth, already thin before Millsap’s injury, is becoming a significant issue. has filled in admirably for Barton and has become the Nuggets’ best 3-point shooter. played 18 minutes Friday and has been a reliable defensive specialist in Harris’ absence recently. If Millsap is out, that likely pushes into the starting lineup.
“If Paul’s not able to go tomorrow night, thatap an opportunity for somebody else,” Malone said. “And that means somebody else moves into the lineup, that means somebody else gets an opportunity off the bench. And all season long, with all the injuries that we’ve had, thatap been the mindset. We can’t worry about it and make excuses, we’ve gotta find ways and solutions.”
The Nuggets were also fortunate to have avoided anything more serious with Morris, who got elbowed by teammate Lyles going for a defensive rebound early in the fourth quarter. Morris, who cleared the concussion protocol, had a gash and a swollen left eye lid when he met with the media.
“I knew I was bleeding right away,” Morris said. “Tried to get up, but it was too blurry. It was from Trey. I shouldn’t be down there rebounding. Thatap how I got hit. … As soon as he hit me, he was like ‘My bad, bro.’ I’m just happy, I told him itap better my eye than like a tooth or something.”
Following Friday’s loss, which snapped their seven-game winning streak, Malone wasn’t as resigned as one might expect.
“Yeah, we’re banged up, man, but thatap life in the NBA, and how we handle it and how we react to that is gonna say a lot about our team.”
