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OAKLAND, Calif. - Charlotte Bobcats guard Ben Gordon missed Friday night's road game against the Golden State Warriors due to soreness in his right knee.
It's undetermined whether Gordon will be available for the last game of the Bobcats' road trip, Saturday in Denver against the Nuggets. However, Gordon did not consider the injury serious in comments before the Warriors game.
"It's not bad at all - just some discomfort,'' Gordon told the Observer. "It's something that's bothered me for a little while. I don't know (whether Denver is possible); we'll deal with it day-to-day. I've had one day of rest and I don't think I'll be out too long.''
Gordon's minutes have fluctuated of late; over his last five appearances he played more than 20 minutes twice and as few as eight Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. He had a strong game against the Phoenix Suns, with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, but hadn't reached double-figures scoring in any of the previous four games.
Karl connection: The Bobcats' Mike Dunlap will coach for the first time Saturday against his former boss, Nuggets coach George Karl. Dunlap worked as a Nuggets assistant from 2006 through 2008, before returning to the college game.
Dunlap initially got to know Karl as a head coach in the Australian professional league. Since Australia's basketball season (winter) is opposite that in the northern hemisphere, Dunlap used to visit NBA practices in the off-season. Among the coaches to welcome him was Karl, then with the Seattle Supersonics.
After that, Dunlap coached Metro State in Denver to the Division II national championship. Karl took over the Nuggets and the two grew close, leading to Dunlap joining Karl's staff.
Thomas on the mend: Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas, out since Nov. 17 with a left calf strain, has upped his physical activity of late to where he's dribbling and shooting off curl plays with the coaches. Recovery time for Thomas was in the two-month range, and there's still no indication when he'll be back, but he's clearly progressing of late.
