Nuggets’ Hodge shot, expected to recover
Denver Nuggets rookie guard Julius Hodge was shot and wounded early Saturday while driving on a highway after visiting a Denver nightclub but is expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
Sheriff’s deputies said the 22-year-old player was struck in his lower body. The team said he was in fair condition.
Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr said Hodge visited the Paladium club, where hip-hop artist Juelz Santana performed Friday night, but the motive for the shooting wasn’t known and no suspects were in custody.
“We don’t have any information or indication now that there was an altercation earlier,” Darr said. He said it was too soon to say whether the shooting was random.
Nuggets coach George Karl said he believes Hodge was hit three times in his legs.
“The preliminary reports are that he’s going to be fine. He should be able to play again in two to three weeks,” Karl said.
Hodge was on Interstate 76 in north Denver at about 2 a.m. when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside fired several shots, Adams County Sheriff’s Sgt. Louis Dixon said. A passenger in Hodge’s vehicle flagged down another motorist, who took Hodge and the passenger to the hospital.
Darr said Hodge’s passenger was “mildly injured.” Darr would not identify the hospital.
Dixon said Hodge’s passenger has been interviewed and is not a suspect. He declined to release the passenger’s name and would not say what kind of vehicle Hodge was driving, but Paladium manager Jose Ramirez said he thought it was a black or navy BMW 7-series.
Hodge was Denver’s first-round draft choice in 2005 out of North Carolina State. The 6-foot-7 guard was recalled from the NBA’s developmental league last month after Earl Boykins broke his hand. He has appeared in 14 games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 0.9 points in 2.4 minutes.
On the courts
LeBron James scored 18 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter to lead Cleveland to a 108-102 victory at East Rutherford, N.J., ending New Jersey’s 14-game winning streak and leaving the Nets one win shy of a franchise record.
Heat 99, Wizards 86: At Washington, Shaquille O’Neal had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Derek Anderson compensated for Dwyane Wade’s foul trouble with five 3-pointers, and Miami beat the Wizards.
Mavericks 101, Hornets 77: At Dallas, the Mavericks drew within a half-game of San Antonio by beating New Orleans.
76ers 89, Bulls 75: At Chicago, Allen Iverson scored 39 points and slumping Philadelphia beat the Bulls to move into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Nuggets 95, Warriors 92: At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and the Nuggets clinched at least a tie for their first division title in 18 years, holding off Golden State.
Jazz 110, Trail Blazers 93: At Salt Lake City, Andrei Kirilenko scored 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help Utah beat Portland and keep its playoff hopes alive.