"The Nuggets play the hottest team in the Western Conference tonight and still won't know if their defensive star will play until today.

Forward Kenyon Martin, out all season from offseason knee surgery, practiced again Tuesday and sounded optimistic.

"It feels great," Martin said. "I didn't have any problems. It's about the same."

Will he play?

"I didn't say that," he said. "We'll see (today)."

The Nuggets visit the San Antonio Spurs, who sport the best record in the NBA at 24-3, including a nine-game win streak that tops the conference.

Nuggets coach George Karl has been getting along fine without Martin, not to mention point guard Chauncey Billups (wrist) and backup center-forward Chris Andersen (back).

But with Denver only 2 1/2 games out of first place in the Northwest Division, Karl said he won't push Martin back onto the court until he's ready, as well as the others.

"Let's wait until (today)," Karl said. "Let's see how they wake up and see how they feel. Let's see how they do in the shootaround. Chauncey and Kenyon both want to play, and I think there's a chance of that to happen."

The knee has bothered Martin since last season. He returned for the playoffs but had surgery to get back to full strength. Right now his defense is further along than his offense."