ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Chauncey Billups, Shooting guard Dahntay Jones, Small forward Carmelo Anthony, Power forward Kenyon Martin, Center Nene. Bench -- Guard J.R. Smith, Guard Anthony Carter, Forward Chris Andersen, Forward Linas Kleiza, Forward Renaldo Balkman.
PLAYER NOTES: --F Linas Kleiza wondered about his minutes being cut with Carmelo Anthony returning after missing 10 games due to a broken right hand. But Kleiza had 21 points in 29 minutes Friday against Charlotte.
"Every time you score, you're going to stay on the court," Kleiza said.
--G Chauncey Billups shot 3-of-9 from the field Friday against Charlotte, including 0-of-2 from three-point range. That broke a streak of 30 straight games with a made three-pointer, which is the second-longest in team history. Billups scored just 12 points the day after being named an All-Star.
--C Chris Andersen got back in the blocking groove Friday against Charlotte. Andersen swatted away five shots Tuesday at Memphis before being held without a block Wednesday at New Orleans. But Andersen had four blocks against the Bobcats. He also scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in 19 productive minutes off the bench.
--G/F J.R. Smith did not have a banner outing in his return to the bench. Smith had mostly been the starter in the 10 games Carmelo Anthony missed due to a broken hand. In his last five games, all starts, Smith averaged 21 points. But coming off the bench Friday against Charlotte in the game Anthony returned, Smith had just 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery) hasn't played since the first preseason game. He underwent surgery Nov. 14, and is expected to return in late February or early March.
