INDIANAPOLIS -- Marcus Camby's left hand was so sore
Wednesday night, a reporter had to open the locker room door for
him. Earl Boykins looked even worse, grimacing as he walked through
the Conseco Fieldhouse hallways.
Denver left Indiana with a 101-99 victory. But it came with a
cost.
Boykins, a backup point guard, apparently banged his hand in the
fourth quarter. Postgame X-rays revealed a fracture that will send
him back to Denver on Thursday, before the rest of his teammates
complete their seven-game road trip.
"It's pretty serious," coach George Karl said. "A broken hand
is probably going to keep him out a minimum of four to five weeks.
We'll have to use our depth to compensate for his loss."
The Northwest Division leaders have dealt with injuries all
season. They are in the midst of playing seven games in 10 days,
their longest road trip of the season, and they were already
short-handed Wednesday night.
"We are a little fatigued," swingman Ruben Patterson said.
"It's been a difficult road trip."
Things got even tougher before Wednesday night's game started.
Denver officials announced that forward Kenyon Martin would not
play because of tendinitis in his left knee. Martin managed to play
only 10 minutes against the New York Knicks on Monday before
leaving with the same problem.
Instead, he sat at the end of the bench and traded barbs with
fans and officials.
Then there was Camby, who walked into the X-ray room about one
hour before tipoff to check his sore left hand. Fortunately for
Denver, the results weren't bad enough to keep Camby out.
He started, played nearly 36 minutes and finished with 10
points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks, his sixth straight game with
at least five blocks.
Afterward, though, there was a large ice pack wrapped around his
left hand.
The Nuggets now head to Memphis and New Orleans for back-to-back
games Friday and Saturday before getting a much needed three-day
rest.