The Denver Nuggets can breathe a big sigh of relief with the return of their superstar Carmelo Anthony.  Anthony missed the previous 8 games with an ankle injury, and the Nuggets went 5-3 without him.  He returned on Tuesday night and helped the Nuggets blow out the Mavericks 127-91.  It was a good thing the Nuggets blew them out, as Anthony did not have to play a ton of minutes in his first game back.  He played only 30 minutes and went 8-16 from the field for 19 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.  The Nuggets are not the same team without Carmelo and he can flat out score the ball for them.  He was leading the league in scoring before his injury, but now sits at third (29.5 ppg), only a few tenths of a point behind Kevin Durant (29.7 ppg) and LeBron James (29.8 ppg).  Carmelo is coming back at a key time for the Nuggets, who have some tough teams coming up on their schedule.  Out of the seven games they have left this month they have to face four tough teams in the Spurs, Cavaliers, Celtics, and Lakers.

The Nuggets will be without starting power forward Kenyon Martin for a week or two due to a lower left leg contusion. Martin has started all 6 games for the Nuggets this season and he is averaging 30.7 minutes, 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Either Chris Andersen or Renaldo Balkman will replace Martin in the starting lineup but regardless of who starts they will both likely see an increase in minutes. Andersen has played in 6 games (0 starts) for the Nuggets this season and he is averaging 21.8 minutes, 5.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Balkman has played in 3 games (0 starts) this season for the Nuggets and he has averaged 9.0 minutes, 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. I would think that the Nuggets would likely start Balkman so that Andersen can stay with the second unit where he is very effective.

Reserve point guard Chucky Atkins might miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia. Atkins was brought in to start at point guard for the Nuggets but it just hasn’t panned out. Atkins has played in 9 games this season and he has averaged 17.6 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Anthony Carter has seen a bump in playing time and he’s played very well. Carter has played in 23 games this season for the Nuggets and he’s averaging 29.3 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.2 assists and 5.9 assists per game.

The Nuggets have lost starting power forward Nene’ Hilario indefinately due to personal reasons. He also has had a tumor removed from his body which could have led him to some nervousness. Nene’ has played in only 12 games so far this season and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 6.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Kenyon Martin and Eduardo Najera will pick up Nene’s minutes until he’s ready to return.

Steven Hunter has underwent surgery on his right knee and he will be out indefinately. Hunter played in only 4 games this season so far and he has averaged 4.8 minutes, 0.8 points and 1.3 rebounds. He likely won’t be missed too much for the Nuggets until he can return to action.