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Nuggets' Williams may be done for season


                 Associated Press 

DENVER -- Already off to an 0-4 start, things grew worse for the Denver
Nuggets when they learned that leading scorer Eric Williams probably
will miss the rest of the season with a torn knee ligament.

Williams, who signed a $26 million contract extension after being
acquired in an offseason trade with Boston, tore the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during Denver's 91-89
loss to Utah on Friday.

Williams left the game after bumping knees with Karl Malone in
the third quarter, but returned to play 13 more minutes. An MRI
on Saturday revealed the tear.

"I just feel terrible for Eric," Nuggets coach Bill Hanzlik said. "The
thing that is so crushing is that Eric was playing so good. He was
having a great year and the system really fit for him."

Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 19.8 points and 5.3 rebounds
under Denver's up-tempo offense. He will be replaced in the starting
lineup by Johnny Newman.

The Nuggets hope to get more inside help from LaPhonso Ellis, who will
come off the injured list for Denver's game at Boston on Wednesday.
Ellis, who has missed 140 of his team's last 246 regular season games,
has been recuperating from a torn right Achilles tendon.