DENVER (AP) - The Nuggets will be without forward Danilo Gallinari for a week to 10 days after X-rays revealed that he had fractured his left big toe.
Gallinari stubbed his toe late in a loss to Portland on Friday night and was held out of Monday night’s 100-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks because of continuing soreness. Soon after beating Atlanta 100-90, the Nuggets announced that the toe was broken.
Gallinari scored 30 points against the Blazers, one shy of tying his career high.
The 22-year-old forward was acquired by the Nuggets in the blockbuster deal that sent Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. He had two points in his debut with Denver last Thursday in a win over Boston.
Asked after morning practice if he could replace Anthony, Gallinari simply responded: “Melo is a superstar. I’m not a superstar. I’m a normal player that can help the team win. That’s it.”
The Hawks played Monday night without Kirk Hinrich (right calf strain) and lost Josh Smith midway through the game to a sore right knee following a second-quarter collision with J.R. Smith.
Josh Smith will be re-examined after the Hawks return to Atlanta.
“It was just real stiff. I couldn’t move the way I wanted to,” Josh Smith said after the game.
Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong were acquired by the Hawks last week in a deal that sent Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford and a draft pick to the Washington Wizards.
Hinrich has played in two games for Atlanta since the trade. He had eight points in more than 29 minutes during a win at Portland on Sunday night.
Before the game, Hawks coach Larry Drew said Hinrich was “a little sore.”
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