--The Nuggets enjoyed a little more size in the middle Wednesday at Toronto when starting power forward Nene returned to the lineup.
Nene, the team's leading rebounder, played despite continued pain in his neck. He sat out during Denver's loss Monday at Atlanta and felt compelled to play though the pain. "I've got no choice," he said. "I've got to go. ... We have no big men. Just Chris (Andersen) and Kenyon (Martin), so I need to help these guys."
Once the game started, Nene showed little sign of discomfort. He led the Nuggets with 21 points in 39 minutes and even made his first career three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half.
"I was worried about the minutes," coach George Karl said. "I probably ran him out of gas a little bit but he has the day off (today)."
--Optimism has turned to certainty for Nuggets forward/center Steven Hunter.
Hunter said Wednesday his recovery from knee surgery is ahead of schedule and he hopes to start doing work on the court by the end of January. After surgery Nov. 14, Hunter thought he might be out for the entire season.
"I don't want to rush back, but I'm progressing," he said. "Before, I was really afraid it might be difficult for me to play again (this season), but now I'm certain that I will."
If all goes well, Hunter said he could return sometime in February.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not a champagne guy. I'm a beer guy and some red wine. I think it's Coors Light tonight." -- Nuggets coach George Karl after NBA career win No. 900.
