The Denver Nuggets paid a heavy price for their win on the road over the Houston Rockets Saturday, losing star forward Carmello Anthony with a sprained ankle during the third quarter.

Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News writes that with 2 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the period and the Nuggets leading 62-48, Anthony was wrapped up by Rockets guard Bob Sura to prevent an easy basket. Anthony crumbled to the floor, and had to be helped to the locker room.

X-rays on Anthony were negative, but he left the arena on crutches. He first said he would miss Monday's home game against New Orleans, but later said there's a "50-50 chance" he'll play.

"I just remember him grabbing me and I fell and stepped on his ankle," Anthony said. "There was a little soreness in it (due to stepping on Bruce Bowen's foot in Friday's 89-75 loss to San Antonio)".

Sura didn't feel the foul was excessive. But Anthony did.

"The way he grabbed me and, yeah, and he just threw me down," Anthony said. "I was in pain."