Sampson Injures Knee, Will Miss at Least Six Weeks

Ralph Sampson, just when he was finally playing well, suffered another knee injury Tuesday night at Houston and will be out at least six weeks.

The 7-foot 4-inch forward was in and out of the lineup early this season because both knees were bothering him. He missed 11 games and was slow to reach his best form.

Last week, Sampson began posting the big numbers that the Rockets need from him. Twice in succession he scored more than 20 points and had 20 or more rebounds.

Tuesday night, with six minutes left in the first quarter of a game the Denver Nuggets won, 107-105, Sampson fell and had to be helped off the floor. A brace was put on his left knee, and he tried to come back in the second quarter. It was a mistake and he soon hobbled off the court.

Later, it was determined that he had damaged a cartilage in his knee. Sampson had been voted to a starting forward berth for the West in Sunday’s All-Star game at Seattle. Of course, a replacement will be named.

Maybe, it will be Lafayette Lever. Lever, overlooked by fans and coaches, posted his 10th triple-double of the season and scored 12 of his 26 points in the last quarter when the Nuggets rallied from an eight-point deficit.

Lever also had 14 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Nuggets win for only the fifth time in 24 games on the road.

Mike Evans, who also was a spark in the late drive, made two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to put the Nuggets ahead to stay.

The Nuggets lost Alex English, who scored 22 points before suffering a badly bruised thigh late in the third quarter. English also tried to come back and also was ineffective.