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DENVER -- Northwest Division rivals Portland and Utah have had injury problems. Now it's the Denver Nuggets' turn to at least be a little bit worried.Star guard Chauncey Billups was lost early in the third quarter of Wednesday's 111-101 win over Houston at the Pepsi Center due to a left groin strain. While it's not believed to be a serious injury, he could miss some game time.
"He was going to get an MRI (Wednesday night), but the feeling I got was a couple of games (Billups would miss),'' Nuggets coach George Karl said after the game. "Probably know a little more (Thursday) ... I got the feeling it wasn't going to be that long.''
The Nuggets on Thursday morning said the MRI confirmed the groin strain. Billups is listed as questionable for Friday's game at New Orleans.
Unlike the Trail Blazers and the Jazz, the Nuggets have been relatively healthy this season. Of the five players who have been starting regularly, forward Kenyon Martin is the only one who has missed any game action, having sat out three times.
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, though, isn't too concerned about Billups. He hopes he won't miss any games.
"(Billups) told me in the second quarter he did tweak it a little bit,'' Anthony said of Billups, who left for good with 9:06 left in the third quarter. "He was going to see the first minute (of the second half) and try to run on it in the third quarter and see how it feels. But I knew he was going to sit out the second half. I'm pretty sure it's OK. They say he walked out fine. He didn't want to take no chances with it, though.''
Groin injuries do tend to sometimes linger. If Billups can't play against the Hornets, Karl said he's not sure who will start.
Although rookie Ty Lawson has taken over as Denver's primary backup, Karl could turn to veteran Anthony Carter. He's quite used to starting at point for the Nuggets while Lawson never has started an NBA game.
"I played (Carter) in the fourth quarter (Wednesday) because I thought controlling our offense (was important),'' Karl said of the veteran playing the game's final 11:26.
After New Orleans, the Nuggets play Sunday at Memphis. Then they don't play again until next Wednesday at home against Atlanta.
"Our schedule is somewhat friendly to us,'' Karl said. "After Memphis we have a few days."
Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.
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