After losing Mikki Moore to Boston, coach George Karl said Denver still could add a player.

"We might do something, or we might not do something. We're waiting for the phone to ring with a surprise," Karl said of a player possibly being bought out by Sunday's playoff- eligibility deadline. "We have our oars in the water."

Before Moore, waived by Sacramento, chose Boston, Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien visited his agent, Mark Bartelstein, in Chicago. Karl phoned Moore.

"I had good conversations," Karl said. "But as soon as I knew Boston was in on it, our recruiting battle was uphill."

NENE'S PROGRESS

Nene, who suffered a right knee bone bruise Sunday at Milwaukee, is walking without a limp.

"I feel much better," said Nene, who missed his second straight game Wednesday.

While Nene wouldn't speculate on a return date, Karl is "staying positive" with hopes it will be sooner than two weeks from the injury.

"We're feeling better about earlier than later now," said Karl, saying Nene will travel to games Sunday at Indiana and Tuesday at Detroit.

DEFENDING ANTHONY

Karl believes Carmelo Anthony isn't getting a fair shake from officials.

"His karma is heavy because he's just banged up and he never gets a whistle," Karl said. "I think he's the most physical player with the least fouls in basketball."

Karl believes "skinny guys get more fouls than big guys," saying Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant is treated better than Anthony. But Anthony gets .22 free throws per minute to Durant's .18.