DENVER -- Denver Nuggets power forward Nene is expected to
miss up to six weeks because of a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Nene was injured in Denver's 119-93 loss at Boston on Wednesday
night. He saw a hand specialist in Denver on Thursday, and the team
said Dr. Carlton Clinkscale will operate on the thumb Friday.
The Nuggets, who have lost three straight games, have been hit
hard by injuries for the third straight season. They have three
points guards who are out: Michael Wilks (hamstring), Anthony
Carter (broken hand) and Chucky Atkins (groin) and are monitoring
minutes for power forward Kenyon Martin, coming back from a knee
operation last year. Martin isn't playing in back-to-back games and
is limited to about 18 minutes a game.
Nene made a successful comeback last season from a knee injury
that wiped out almost his entire 2005-06 season.