Nuggets forward Nene missed his second straight game because of a strained left hamstring Saturday night and the team isn’t sure when he will be back.
“Nene’s going to be out probably for a while,” Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “It doesn’t seem to be improving.”
Waiting game
When T.J. Ford will be healthy enough to play with the Bucks is anybody’s guess. Ford still is recovering from a spinal-cord operation that took place May 5.
“There’s never been a timetable,” coach Terry Porter said. “He hasn’t been OK’d.”
SATURDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Bulls 90 at Indiana 100
Complete Bulls coverage, Pages 3, 17
Miami 118 at Washington 106
Dwyane Wade had career highs with 37 points and 12 assists to again overshadow Shaquille O’Neal (13 points in 27 minutes). Heat improved to 3-0 for 2nd time in history.
Orlando 100 at Charlotte 111
Primoz Brezec had 20 points, 10 rebounds to lead Bobcats to 1st win. Gerald Wallace added 18 points, 10 rebounds, Steve Smith had 14 points and Jason Hart 14 points and 11 assists.
Philadelphia 91 at Detroit 99
Chauncey Billups had 20 points and 10 assists and Richard Hamilton added 17 points for Pistons, playing 2nd straight game as coach Larry Brown recuperates from hip surgery.
Boston 107 at New York 73
Paul Pierce scored 28 points, Ricky Davis added 20 and Celtics, who closed 1st half on 13-0 run, shot 56 percent to win for 1st time this season after opening with 2 losses at home.
Phoenix 112 at New Jersey 80
Steve Nash had 17 points and 8 assists as Suns rode 57.4-percent shooting to 3rd straight victory, their best start since they went 5-0 to begin 1984-85 season.
New Orleans 92 at Minnesota 99
Latrell Sprewell scored 7 points in 2-minute span down stretch to spark Timberwolves. Kevin Garnett had 8 of his 29 points in 70-second span with less than 2 minutes left.
Memphis 88 at Dallas 112
Dirk Nowitzki hit nifty basket that turned into 3-point play in game-turning surge and finished with 22 points as Mavericks improved to 3-0 by overcoming early 12-point deficit.
Sacramento 101 at Houston 104
Charlie Ward made 2 3-pointers in OT, Yao Ming scored 33 points and Rockets rallied late for win in home opener. Tracy McGrady added 23 points for Houston.
Cleveland 88 at Milwaukee 102
Michael Redd scored 28 points and Keith Van Horn had 22 points and 14 rebounds to help Bucks in home opener. LeBron James scored 31 for Cavs, winless in 3 games this season.
Utah 106 at Denver 82
Carlos Boozer had 30 points and 17 rebounds and Andrei Kirilenko added 16 points to help Jazz, which has shot 50 percent in each game, to best start (3-0) since going 5-0 in 2000-01.
L.A. Clippers at Golden St., late
With stars struggling, new Warriors coach Mike Montgomery still looking for 1st NBA win. In last season at Stanford, Montgomery didn’t suffer 2nd loss until NCAA tournament.
