Nene to miss Game 6 with sprained knee

A torn ACL cost him all but one game of the 2005-06 season, while testicular cancer threatened to end his career in 2008.

When Nene hobbled off the court Wednesday night in Game 5 of Denver’s first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz, there was legitimate concern that he had suffered another major knee injury.

Those concerns were alleviated when an MRI revealed no ligament or meniscus damage to Nene’s left knee, but the Nuggets will be without their starting center for Game 6 in Salt Lake City on Friday night.

“This morning when I got here, they were saying it’s not as bad as they thought,” backup center Johan Petro said as he left the Pepsi Center on Thursday. “That’s great to know that he might be on his feet quicker than we thought. That’s great news.”

Nene was injured when he landed awkwardly in the free-throw lane with 5:03 left in the second quarter of Denver’s 116-102 victory Wednesday night. His status is day-to-day should the Nuggets beat the Jazz again to force a Game 7 at home Sunday.

Petro replaced Nene as the starter in the second half of Game 5 and will likely draw the early assignment again Friday. He averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds while starting 16 games in place of Kenyon Martin during the regular season.

“I’m prepared to do whatever I’m asked to do,” Petro said. “If my name gets called, I will step up to the challenge.”

Nene averaged 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while playing all 82 games during the regular season. His numbers were virtually identical (13.8, 7.0) in the first four games of the Utah series, but the Nuggets now will rely more heavily on Martin, Petro and Chris Andersen as they try to extend their season.

Andersen had six rebounds and six points after halftime of Game 5, while Martin finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Both players have been dealing with injuries for most of the season.

“As I’ve been saying all series, it’s mind over matter,” Martin said. “We’ve got to go out and play. Of course we’re going to miss Nene. Guys are going to have to step up like they did all season long. It’s going to be on myself, Bird, Johan – all of us – to try to fill that void.”

In addition to his scoring and rebounding, the 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene is an excellent interior passer (four assists in 14 minutes Wednesday) and provided defensive size against Utah forward Carlos Boozer.

Martin, 6-9, 230, started out defensively on Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko in Game 5. With Nene unavailable, he will probably have to guard Boozer on Friday, while the 7-foot Petro matches up against the 7-1 Fesenko.

“That’s what a team’s all about,” Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups said. “Sometimes an opportunity is here. Petro, I look for him to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Billups took an opportunity to heckle Petro a few minutes later Thursday, rolling down his window and interrupting Petro as he spoke to several reporters outside the Pepsi Center.

“Superstar,” Billups chided playfully. “Mild-mannered superstar.”

At this point, the Nuggets don’t need Petro to be a superstar. They need him to rebound, defend and do whatever it takes to help them keep their season alive.

“I’m not trying to put any pressure on myself,” Petro said. “I know how big that game is and what I have to do.”