<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Nene finally returned, and he wasted no time.</p> In picking up fouls, that is.</p> The Nuggets big man made his preseason debut Tuesday night after missing the first five games because of a calf strain and was whistled for three fouls in the first 6 minutes, 2 seconds. Nene did settle down a bit, and the Nuggets beat Milwaukee 114-102 at the Pepsi Center.</p> Nene had six points, four rebounds and four fouls in 13 minutes. He's trying to round into shape for Denver's regular-season opener Oct. 31.</p> "I think there's a little rust there," said coach George Karl, whose team got 21 points from guard Allen Iverson. "But I think all of our guys wanted him back out there and to get him accustomed to the things he did last year on the court. He played well with the limited practice time he had on the court."</p> Nene started at center alongside power forward Kenyon Martin, who was playing in his second preseason game after returning from microfracture knee surgery in November. Martin had 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.</p> "It was hard to breathe out there," said Nene, who said it will be at least two weeks before he's in the kind of shape he would like.</p> Playing in his second preseason game, point guard Chucky Atkins, who has been bothered by a groin strain, started off slow but scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 15 points and six assists.</p> "I'm glad I got the opportunity," Atkins said. "I'm about 80 percent, but I'll be ready for the opener."</p> In addition to point guard Anthony Carter (broken hand), injured players who sat out were center Marcus Camby (back) and forward Eduardo Najera (foot sprain).</div></p> Source: Rocky Mountain News</p>
