Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari is expected to miss a month with a severely sprained left ankle that turned out to be less serious than first feared.
Tests on Tuesday revealed the chip fracture in his left foot didn't actually occur Monday night when he rolled his ankle in a game against Houston. Doctors said it was from a prior injury, perhaps even before he joined the NBA.
The team says Gallinari will remain in a walking boot for three to five days and receive treatment for "a significant ankle sprain."
Coach George Karl said he anticipates he'll be without Gallinari, his leading scorer, for up to a month. On Monday night, he feared he might be without him for six weeks.
Gallinari signed a four-year, $42 million deal last month.
