Faried ‘much better’ after injury scare

Kenneth Faried and the Denver Nuggets had quite a scare on Saturday night as the forward was carted off the court on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury during the team’s 111-108 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors.

He missed the final seconds and was taken from courtside on a stretcher after the contest ended with his neck in a brace – raising his arm and giving a “thumbs up” as he was wheeled away. Faried had feeling in his hands and feet.

Nets 100, Celtics 97: Brook Lopez scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading Brooklyn to a victory over Boston.

Accounting for one-third of Golden State’s 63 first-half points, Green was pacing for a career night from the time he woke up, it seemed. “So I’ve just got to deal with it”. The Warriors didn’t do quite as good a job with it as they did in Houston – there were still periods of stagnant offense and forced shots – but overall this was another quality “system” win where the team overcame the MVP’s absence. Klay Thompson drove to the rim for a layup.

Curry, who missed the Warriors’ previous two games, returned to the lineup but lasted just 14 first-half minutes before aggravating his bruised left leg. He finished with five points, four assists and two steals.

“Obviously any time you’re dealing with a neck or back, it’s scary”, Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson said.

“You don’t want to see that with anybody, with any player in this league”, Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari said after the game.

Guard Stephen Curry’s status is up in the air for Monday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at Oracle Arena, but the Warriors may have good news with the long-awaited return of Harrison Barnes. His cuts through the Nuggets’ defense were huge baskets for the Warriors, particularly given the troublethe Warriors were having generating offense late in the game (12 4th quarter points).

Curry’s injury left the Warriors with only six available players due to myriad other injuries. The Warriors led 37-11 at one point after a 21-2 opening flurry during which Green bombed in four straight 3-pointers.

Interim coach Luke Walton said before the game that even he wasn’t sure if he’d be the head coach when he woke up Saturday. “I’m not sure what happened.”… He scored three points and was 0-for-5 shooting from the field.