Tweet
It didn't take long for Austin Croshere to figure out that the Indiana Pacers lost another one of their stars to injury.
"I saw the look on the X-ray guy's face when he walked out," Croshere said. "I was like, 'Are you kidding me?'"
Indiana lost Reggie Miller when the 39-year-old guard broke a bone in his left hand in the Pacers' preseason finale Friday night against Denver.
Miller left the Pacers' 98-79 loss to the Nuggets in the first quarter, clutching his non-shooting hand. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Miller could miss four to six weeks while recovering.
"There was definitely a cloud hanging over the game," Croshere said. "It's almost disbelief."
It was the worst kind of news for the Pacers, who are already without Jermaine O'Neal (strained ligament in left foot), Jeff Foster (hip), Anthony Johnson (broken hand), David Harrison (shoulder) and Jonathan Bender (knee).
Carlisle said Friday that O'Neal might miss the regular-season opener next week, while Foster and Johnson are expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.
"It's a little different kind of adversity than we had last year with all these things happening at once," Carlisle said. "This is tough."
Nene had 17 points and four rebounds for Denver. Earlier in the day, the Nuggets said they picked up his $3.04 million option for next season.
Ron Artest led the Pacers with 24 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Last year's defensive player of the year now becomes the team's main offensive threat, along with newly acquired Stephen Jackson, who had 17 points.
"We're going to be fine," Artest said. "I'll make sure we'll be all right."
Looking to avoid similar injury problems, Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik didn't take any chances. Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby were healthy scratches, while Nikoloz Tskitishvili did not play because of a strained right hamstring.
"No injuries," a relieved Bzdelik said. "We've had the whole team out in practice and in certain games."
Rodney White scored 16 points, and Francisco Elson had 10 points and 10 rebounds to help the Nuggets finish the preseason at 7-1, the best record in franchise history.
Denver took advantage of Indiana's depleted frontcourt, going to the rim early and often for uncontested baskets.
The Nuggets had five dunks and five layups in the first half to help them to a 44-41 lead at halftime. They used more of the same, and poor shooting from the Pacers, to extend their lead in the third quarter.
Indiana (6-2) shot just 38 percent and committed 24 turnovers.
The Nuggets open the season on the road Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers while the Pacers open at Cleveland on Wednesday.
"We feel good," Nuggets point guard Andre Miller said. "We've got some guys back from injury. We've played well."
Source: AP
"I saw the look on the X-ray guy's face when he walked out," Croshere said. "I was like, 'Are you kidding me?'"
Indiana lost Reggie Miller when the 39-year-old guard broke a bone in his left hand in the Pacers' preseason finale Friday night against Denver.
Miller left the Pacers' 98-79 loss to the Nuggets in the first quarter, clutching his non-shooting hand. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Miller could miss four to six weeks while recovering.
"There was definitely a cloud hanging over the game," Croshere said. "It's almost disbelief."
It was the worst kind of news for the Pacers, who are already without Jermaine O'Neal (strained ligament in left foot), Jeff Foster (hip), Anthony Johnson (broken hand), David Harrison (shoulder) and Jonathan Bender (knee).
Carlisle said Friday that O'Neal might miss the regular-season opener next week, while Foster and Johnson are expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.
"It's a little different kind of adversity than we had last year with all these things happening at once," Carlisle said. "This is tough."
Nene had 17 points and four rebounds for Denver. Earlier in the day, the Nuggets said they picked up his $3.04 million option for next season.
Ron Artest led the Pacers with 24 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Last year's defensive player of the year now becomes the team's main offensive threat, along with newly acquired Stephen Jackson, who had 17 points.
"We're going to be fine," Artest said. "I'll make sure we'll be all right."
Looking to avoid similar injury problems, Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik didn't take any chances. Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby were healthy scratches, while Nikoloz Tskitishvili did not play because of a strained right hamstring.
"No injuries," a relieved Bzdelik said. "We've had the whole team out in practice and in certain games."
Rodney White scored 16 points, and Francisco Elson had 10 points and 10 rebounds to help the Nuggets finish the preseason at 7-1, the best record in franchise history.
Denver took advantage of Indiana's depleted frontcourt, going to the rim early and often for uncontested baskets.
The Nuggets had five dunks and five layups in the first half to help them to a 44-41 lead at halftime. They used more of the same, and poor shooting from the Pacers, to extend their lead in the third quarter.
Indiana (6-2) shot just 38 percent and committed 24 turnovers.
The Nuggets open the season on the road Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers while the Pacers open at Cleveland on Wednesday.
"We feel good," Nuggets point guard Andre Miller said. "We've got some guys back from injury. We've played well."
Source: AP