DENVER (ESPN.com news services) -- Carmelo Anthony will sit out Monday night's game against the Hornets and is questionable for Denver's game Thursday against LeBron James and the Cavaliers because of an ankle sprain.
Anthony hurt his right ankle during the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Rockets. He was headed to the basket on a fast break when Bob Sura bear-hugged him and the two went tumbling out of bounds. Anthony had to be helped to the locker room. X-rays were negative.
Anthony had eight points when he left. He was replaced by Francisco Elson, who hit 1-of-2 free throws.
Despite the loss of Anthony, the Nuggets will look to continue their recent surge when they host the depleted Hornets at the Pepsi Center.
Following a slow start, the Nuggets have won five of their last six games, suffering only a loss to the Southwest Division-leading San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
Denver rebounded nicely from that loss to beat the Rockets 82-76 the next night to move above .500 for the first time all season.
Andre Miller provided his finest effort of the season against the Rockets, scoring a season-high 20 points, pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists. He recovered well after shooting just 1-of-10 from the floor vs. the Spurs.
Monday's contest begins a four-game homestand for Denver and continues a stretch of nine of 10 games at the Pepsi Center. The club is 6-3 at home thus far.
Playing without All-Stars Baron Davis, who has been out since Nov. 17 with an inflamed disk in his lower back, and Jamaal Magloire, who suffered a broken finger in a loss to Phoenix on Friday, the Hornets dropped an 89-76 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Aside from Darrell Armstrong's 21 points, including 14 in the first half, New Orleans' starters scored just 36 points on 11-of-43 shooting. Lee Nailon was particularly ineffective with a 1-of-14 performance.
Magloire may miss up to one month and there is no timetable for Davis' return, giving the Hornets little hope for turning around a dismal start.
New Orleans has won five of the last six meetings between the teams.