Martin's status in doubt for Saturday

There appears to be a better chance Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin won’t play Saturday than he will.

“I think doubtful is the word I got this morning,’’ Nuggets coach George Karl said after practice Friday before amending his statement to call Martin a game-time decision for the home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Martin suffered a left rib cartilage strain early in the third quarter of Thursday night’s 114-104 win over Utah, and said he “felt pretty bad’’ after the game. Martin didn’t practice Friday, instead getting treatment.

Karl said it’s hard to tell just how much Martin has healed since Thursday’s game was a late start and he didn’t get to bed until 2 a.m. If Martin can’t go, consider reserve big man Chris Andersen ready to help fill the void.

“We definitely need him,’’ Andersen said. “We just got to keep our focus and prepared (if the Nuggets don’t have Martin).’’

Martin missed six games during 12-game stretch between late February and mid-March due to a lower back strain. He called it frustrating that just when his back fully healed, another problem has surfaced.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are a lot more depleted than the Nuggets. Among those out Saturday are former Nuggets center Marcus Camby (sprained left ankle), center Chris Kaman (flu) and forward Al Thornton (bone bruise in left foot).

COUNTING STATS: During a live interview following Thursday’s game, Andersen corrected a TNT sideline reporter when he got his point total wrong, with Andersen saying he scored seven points.

Andersen, who had a career-high eight blocks against the Jazz, also is known for keeping track of his block count during games. A reporter asked Karl on Friday about that.

“I have no idea why, but, if it turns him on, I’m OK with it,’’ Karl said. “If it excites him, motivates him, perfect. But I’m not sure that’s the way we should do it.’’

FIFTY-FIFTY: Karl said it “doesn’t make any sense to me’’ how there is such a different perception about the Nuggets winning 50 games this season than last season.

“What do we win, 52 or 53 games this year, and we’re having a great year this year and last year we won 50 with probably a more difficult team, and this is a bad year?’’ Karl said.

The Nuggets, who went 50-32 last season, are 50-26 with six games left. With only two tough games remaining, it’s very realistic the Denver will win at least 54.

And it must be said the Nuggets last season were the No. 8 seed in the West and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by Lakers while this season they’re holding down the No. 2 seed.

As the Nuggets jockey for playoff position down the stretch, Karl said they’re considering not having shootaround before some games to get extra rest. The Nuggets won’t have a shootaround today due to the snowstorm expected to hit Denver.

PLAYOFF TICKETS: Nuggets single-game playoff tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday for all four potential first-round games. If the Nuggets have homecourt advantage in the first round, the initial game at the Pepsi Center will be April 18 or 19.

Fans can buy tickets at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Pepsi Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-4NBATIX or 719-520-9090. Tickets start at $12 apiece.