The Nuggets will be without backup center Timofey Mozgov for the next 10-14 days due to a sprained ankle and knee. Mozgov played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Nuggets since coming over in the big Carmelo Anthony trade with the Knicks and he is averaging 6.0 minutes, 2.5 points and 1.5 assists per game. The Nuggets should be able to survive O.K. without Mozgov as he hasn’t done much for them since coming over to them in the big deal.

The Nuggets will be without starting small forward Danilo Gallinari for the next 7-10 days due to a fractured big toe. Gallinari has played in 2 games (both starts) for the Nuggets so far and he is averaging 30.5 minutes, 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal and 2.0 blocked shots per game. Wilson Chandler will slide into the starting small forward role until Gallinari returns to action and they shouldn’t miss a beat. Chandler has played in 3 games (2 starts) for the Nuggets so far and he is averaging 31.7 minutes, 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. The Nuggets should be o.k. going forward. The one thing the Carmelo Anthony trade did for the Nuggets was that it really improved the depth of the team.

Veteran starting point guard Chauncey Billups has at least one torn ligament and maybe two in his right wrist.  This is going to cause him to miss some time while he heals.  Billups has played in 21 games (all starts) for the Nuggets so far this year and he is averaging 32.6 minutes, 14.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Billups is only shooting 35.1% from the floor and now everyone knows why.  23-year old Ty Lawson will replace Billups in the starting lineup.  He has played in 24 games (3 starts) for the Nuggets so far this year and he is averaging 24.1 minutes, 10.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.  Lawson is more than capable of holding down the fort until Billups is ready to return to action.

The Nuggets have lost backup center Brian Butch for the next 6 months as he ruptured his patella tendon playing in the summer league. Butch played in 39 games (38 starts) in the D-League last season and he averaged 33.9 minutes, 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. This is a big blow to Butch who was likely going to get his big chance to make it in the NBA.

The Nuggets will be without starting power forward Kenyon Martin indefinitely due to a knee injury. Martin has played in 55 games (all starts) for the Nuggets this season and he is averaging 34.9 minutes, 11.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game. This is a huge loss for the Nuggets who hope that Martin will be back before the playoffs start. Johan Petro has replaced Martin in the starting lineup so far and the Nuggets need him to step up. Petro has played in 19 games (2 starts) for the Nuggets this season and he is averaging 7.1 minutes, 2.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. In his last three games, Petro is averaging 15.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.