ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Chauncey Billups, Shooting guard J.R. Smith, Small forward Dahntay Jones, Power forward Kenyon Martin, Center Nene. Bench -- Guard Anthony Carter, Forward Chris Andersen, Forward Linas Kleiza.
PLAYER NOTES: --G J.R. Smith, after going 2-for-13 and scoring nine points Saturday against Orlando, is shooting just 12-for-58 (20.7 percent) and averaging 10.3 points over the past four games. "I don't consider it a slump," Smith said. "Just another stepping stone." Despite his troubles, Smith has started the past three games in place of injured Carmelo Anthony, but it remains to be seen if Nuggets coach George Karl might go back to Linas Kleiza on Monday at Houston.
--F Linas Kleiza has broken out of a recent slump. After shooting 1-for-12 in a two-game stretch, Kleiza has shot 17-for-24 the past two games while averaging 22 points. Kleiza got himself going on Thursday against Phoenix by starting to take the ball to the hoop. After he had success, he was able to get his outside shot going again. Kleiza scored 26 points Saturday against Orlando, going 9-for-13 from the field, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
--G/F Sonny Weems made his NBA debut Saturday against Orlando. The rookie scored four points while playing the final 3:31 of a 106-88 loss. Weems didn't play in the season's first 1 1/2 months, primarily due to injury, before being sent Dec. 10 to the NBADL's Colorado 14ers. He returned Jan. 6, and the Nuggets finally had a lopsided game in which they could insert Weems.
"It felt great to get out there," he said. "Unfortunately we lost, so that doesn't mean anything. ... It is one of my dreams (to play an NBA game)."
--C Johan Petro played his first game for the Nuggets on Saturday against Orlando. Petro was acquired Jan. 7 from Oklahoma City. Nuggets coach George Karl had been looking for a chance to get Petro some time, but most of the games right after his arrival were very close. Petro scored two points and had a block while playing the final 3:31 in the lopsided loss to the Magic.
"It felt good, but it was a losing cause," Petro said.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Carmelo Anthony (non-displaced fracture in right hand) was hurt Jan. 5 against Indiana. Anthony was ruled out for three to four weeks. He's optimistic about returning on the short end of that.
--C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery) hasn't played since the first preseason game. He underwent surgery Nov. 14, and he will be out until at least mid-February.
