Nuggets' Ellis to undergo knee surgery

DENVER, Nov. 22 -- Denver Nuggets forward LaPhonso Ellis was to undergo season-ending knee surgery Tuesday.

The Nuggets announced Saturday that Ellis will miss the rest of the season due to a stress fracture in his right knee. Ellis suffered the injury in a pickup game on Sept. 11 and the knee did not properly responded to treatment. He sat out the entire preseason and was placed on the injured list on Nov. 1. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Ellis averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds a game last season and played a key role in Denver's playoff success. He was drafted by the Nuggets as the fifth overall selection in 1992.