One moment, Antonio McDyess is jumping higher than the other nine players on the court who have two healthy knees. Minutes later, he is limping off the court in pain.
Rebound. Limp. Dunk. Smile. Sprint. Grimace. Stretch. Ice. Lots of ice.

Such is the process for McDyess as the Denver Nuggets forward tries to determine when his surgically repaired left knee will be strong enough for him to play again.

He will miss his 44th game tonight when the Nuggets face the Sacramento Kings (8 MST, KTVD-Channel 20).

"My biggest fear is that it's going to take even longer than I thought," McDyess said Thursday. "That's my biggest fear. I'm just so anxious to get back out there that when I say that I want to come back on a certain day, then it don't happen, I get discouraged about myself."