The Nuggets' plan was to slowly bring back Kenyon Martin, allowing the forward to rest his knee in the first games of back-to-backs. But the caveat was that Nene would be available to play power forward during those games. Nene sprained his left thumb on Wednesday in Boston and travelled back to Denver for tests today, so the Nuggets decided they will play Martin in their next game, Friday at the Washington Wizards.

Nene will not be available for the Wizards game or the game the following night at the Indiana Pacers.

In Wednesday's debacle at Boston, Martin looked "rusty" according to coach George Karl, but overall "I thought he was pretty good, actually," Karl said of one of the team's few bright spots.

"I thought he brought energy as a starter," Karl said, "and he stayed in the game and got the second unit to play hard, play defense. I think he's rusty in some of his ball-handling decisions, and I think he'll finish better around the basket once he gets a little more continuity and consistency."