Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony was fitted with a red, removable splint Tuesday the All-Star forward injured the middle finger of his right hand in the second half of the 135-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Anthony is averaging 21.1 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Nuggets, who top the Northwest Division with a 24-12 record.

Anthony said the injury happened when Jeff Foster swatted at the ball and hit his hand early in the third quarter. He missed three games last month with a bruised right elbow.

The team, which described the injury as a probable fracture and finally on Tuesday said that their star guard will be out at least three weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand in the team's victory the previous night over Indiana.

Anthony has also been hampered by a bruised right elbow this season, causing him to miss three games in late December. The bothersome elbow will now get some much-needed rest as well.

Basketball