MINNEAPOLIS – The big injury talk surrounding the Nuggets is about Kenyon Martin, the starting forward who is out for likely a few weeks due to his left knee, but Ty Lawson’s injured shoulder is still a big issue – it will keep him out of tonight’s game at Minnesota and possibly Friday at New Orleans.

“It’s day-to-day now,” the reserve point guard Lawson said after today’s shootaround at Target Center. “It doesn’t hurt a lot, I’m moving it now, there’s just one spot (in my shoulder) that catches every time I dribble and make a move. So I’m trying to work it out. … Once it stops catching, then I’ll be able to play.”

Anthony Carter, Lawson’s backup (if you will), has played Lawson’s minutes in Denver’s past three games, all Nuggets victories. He’s put up nights of four points and 12 assists, 12 points and seven assists and finally seven points and six assists in Denver’s most-recent win, Sunday against Portland.

Allen Iverson got a warm reception in Denver when the Pistons played the Nuggets in 2008. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)

It didn’t take long for Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson to become good friends when The Answer was traded into town in 2007.

Now, Anthony wants to be there for his buddy, who is reportedly in a life spiraling out of control. Iverson’s wife wants a divorce. A Philadelphia Inquirer report said there are those worried whether gambling and alcohol will drag his life down to depths heretofore not seen.

Anthony shook his head when asked about his take on Iverson.

“It’s sad man,” Anthony said. “That’s my guy. I really don’t want to see him going through what he’s going through. From family issues to whatever is going on off the court. That’s something I really don’t want to see him go through. When one person is down, everyone starts kicking.”

Asked if he had seen alcohol abuse or excessive gambling when Iverson was in Denver, Anthony emphatically said, “No.”

Anthony said the last time he spoke with Iverson was two weeks ago.

“I haven’t talked to him since all of this stuff started coming out,” he said.

Asked what, if anything, he can do to help his friend, Anthony sighed.

“I can just try to be there for him, just try to talk to him, keep him positive and motivated,” Anthony said. “That’s the only thing I can do. At the end of the day he’s a man, he’s got to deal with his own problems. But I just want to be there for him in any way that I can.”

Chris Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com

Well, we’re still waiting to hear what Kenyon Martin and the doctors will decide to do about his left knee. They’re going through much consternation (understandably). I will keep you updated if there’s any breaking news via this blog and twitter – (@nuggetsnews).

Meanwhile, the Nuggets are looking at some players such as Brian Cook, Jake Voskuhl and Mark Blount, as I mentioned in my game story, and at today’s workout, I heard Cook’s shooting was eye-popping. Cook played sparingly this year in 15 games for Houston, averaging 1.4 points per game.

The Nuggets didn’t practice today but will hit the court tomorrow before an afternoon flight to Minnesota, where they’ll take on the Timberwolves on Wednesday.