ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Chauncey Billups, Shooting guard J.R. Smith, Small forward Carmelo Anthony, Power forward Kenyon Martin, Center Nene. Bench -- Guard Dahntay Jones, Guard Anthony Carter, Center Chris Andersen, Forward Linas Kleiza, Forward Renaldo Balkman.
PLAYER NOTES: --C Nene returned Saturday against Golden State after serving a two-game suspension for a head-butt of F Louis Amundson and for bumping official Bill Spooner. Nene has appealed the suspension, trying to get back his lost $176,000 in salary. In his return, Nene played just 24 minutes, but he shot 4-for-5, scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds.
--G Anthony Carter said he's all the way back from a hip injury that cost him four games in early March. He sure looked healthy Saturday. Carter handed out a season-high 13 assists in Denver's 129-116 win over Golden State. With the Nuggets winning big much of the game and Carter playing so well in his 24 minutes off the bench, starting PG Chauncey Billups played just 28 minutes.
--G J.R. Smith, for a change, wasn't hot. After averaging 23 points in his previous four games and shooting well, Smith shot just four of 13 for 10 points Saturday against Golden State. With Smith struggling and swingman Linas Kleiza playing well en route to 22 points, Nuggets coach George Karl elected to use Smith for just 21 minutes.
--C Johan Petro headed back to the bench Saturday after starting the previous two games with starting C Nene suspended. Petro played only the final 3:29 of Denver's 129-116 win over Golden State, coming in with the game all but decided. Petro's play has been up and down since his January acquisition from Oklahoma City, and it remains to be seen if he will have much of a role in the playoffs.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery) hasn't played since the first preseason game. He underwent surgery Nov. 14, and he is hopeful of returning by season's end.
