DENVER, April 14 -- The Denver Nuggets activated LaPhonso Ellis from the disabled list Friday after the the third-year forward missed the first 76 games of the season with a knee injury. Ellis was in uniform Friday night when the Nuggets played host to the Phoenix Suns.
Ellis suffered a stress fracture of his right patella in training camp on Sept. 11 and underwent surgery on Nov. 22. He was expected to miss the entire season. The 6-foot-8 forward was second on the club in both scoring and rebounding last season, averaging 15.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He was instrumental in Denver's first-round playoff upset of Seattle last season, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds in his matchup with Shawn Kemp. Ellis was named to the All-Rookie team in 1993 after playing collegiately at Notre Dame. The Nuggets entered the night tied with the Sacramento Kings in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff berth. Sacramento was San Antonio Friday night. To open space on the roster, Denver placed little-used forward Mark Randall on the injured list with tendinitis in his left ankle.
