McInnis Makes Most of His Second Chance

Nearly four years ago, point guard Jeff McInnis thought Denver was going to be his home for good. He had left college after his junior season at North Carolina and was drafted in the second round by the Nuggets in 1996.

But things didn’t work out. McInnis had several run-ins with then-Denver coach Dick Motta and was waived by the Nuggets a few weeks into the season. Since then, McInnis has bounced around playing overseas, in the Continental Basketball Assn. and in a short stint with Washington last season.

McInnis, who earlier this week signed on for the rest of the season, will continue tonight to try to impress the Clippers when they play against his old team, the Nuggets, at Pepsi Center.

“There’s never been a question of my ability,” McInnis said. “It has always been other stuff. Now, I’m getting a chance to actually play and I want to be ready.”

McInnis said he realizes he missed a good opportunity with the Nuggets.

“It was my rookie year and it was blown up like I was a bad guy,” he said. “I made a young mistake. . . . If I had known it was going to be this hard to get another chance, I would have sat there and dealt with it.”

TONIGHT

at Denver, 6 PST

* Site--Pepsi Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 14-51, Nuggets 26-38.

* Record vs. Nuggets--1-1.

* Update--Denver has not played since losing to the Clippers on Tuesday.