Nuggets F Anthony out 3-4 weeks

Jan 6, 2009 - 9:55 PM DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets will be without Carmelo Anthony for at least three weeks.

Anthony, Denver's leading scorer, will be sidelined three to four weeks due to a broken bone in his shooting hand.

The 24-year-old Anthony saw a hand specialist Tuesday, less than 24 hours after suffering the injury in the third quarter of Monday's 135-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Anthony officially has been diagnosed with a non-displaced third metacarpal fracture on his right hand. However, the two-time All-Star will not need surgery, according to Denver-based hand specialist Dr. Carlton Clinkscales.

Instead of an operation, Anthony instead will have his hand placed in a removable splint.

Anthony suffered the injury with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter Monday when Pacers center Jeff Foster slapped his hand while going for the basketball. The two-time Olympian admitted that he was in discomfort throughout the rest of the contest.

"I didn't have any feeling whatsoever. It was just numb," said Anthony, who collected 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the game. "It was just numb out there."

The broken hand constitutes the latest setback in what has been a painful season for the usually durable Anthony, who already missed five games earlier in the campaign due to an injured right elbow.

Sporting a new haircut in an attempt to improve his image, Anthony has struggled offensively this season, averaging just 21.1 points in 31 games. The former Syracuse star has averaged at least 25.7 points in each of the last three seasons.

The 6-8 Anthony missed Denver's first two games this season while serving a league-mandated suspension stemming from a DUI last April.

To replace Anthony on the roster, the Nuggets recalled swingman Sonny Weems from Colorado of the D-League.

A second-round draft selection last summer, Weems averaged 18.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 10 games with the 14ers this season.