• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Nuggets face Raptors, look for first home win

Nov 18, 2006 - 5:05 PM Toronto (2-6) at Denver (3-4) 9:00 pm EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets are 0-2 at home this season. Now they will have to play their next contest at the Pepsi Center without Kenyon Martin.

Without the injured Martin, who is out for the season, the Nuggets will host the lowly Toronto Raptors.

Denver's high-priced and oft-injured forward underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee, the team announced Wednesday.

Martin underwent arthroscopic surgery that revealed more significant damage than was indicated on an earlier MRI.

Martin collected 19 points and 20 rebounds in the first two games of the season, but swelling in the right knee forced him to miss last Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks, the first of four absences before the team's announcement on his status.

Star forward Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points for the Nuggets, who shot 43 percent (32-of-75) and were outrebounded, 43-36, in Denver's 108-99 loss at Orlando on Wednesday.

Guard J.R. Smith melted down in the final minutes, picking up a crucial technical foul prior to a jump ball and failing to jump on the ensuing toss by the official. His errors led to a technical free throw and a transition layup to seal the Magic's win.

Chris Bosh and Morris Peterson scored 20 points apiece and T.J. Ford chipped in 13 for the Raptors, who shot 45 percent (38-of-83) and recorded 10 steals in a 107-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

It was the Raptors' first game in Los Angeles since Kobe Bryant scored an eye-popping 81 points - the second most in league history - on 28-of-46 shots to help the Lakers rally for a 122-104 triumph on January 22.

Denver has won the last four meetings with Toronto.