Nuggets' Lawson blames derailed travel plans for missed practice

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Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson issued an explanation via Instagram for missing practice Wednesday, citing travel issues to explain the incident that frustrated head coach Brian Shaw.

The Wednesday practice was the Nuggets' first return to basketball action since a Feb. 10 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, owing to the extended All-Star break. Lawson was apparently in Las Vegas during the break, posting photos from Sin City on Tuesday. 

(Courtesy: Facebook/TyLawson3)

Shaw discussed Lawson's absence from practice with media earlier Wednesday, and did not seem thrilled.

"We had a week off or nine days between games, and you expect everybody to be here," Shaw said, according to Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post. "It disrupts the planning of everything, in terms of you count on somebody in practice. But he's not here so we had to go without him."

Shaw held off on saying Lawson would be punished, and conceded there could be a reasonable explanation for his absence.

"I know that there's things that happen," Shaw said. "Guys went all different directions after the last game ... I don't know what the issues are, the travel issues."

Lawson is the Nuggets' leading scorer, averaging 16.9 points, and while unlikely, he could be moved before Thursday's trade deadline if another team is interested. 

Lawson has had off-court issues in the past. Just last month, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.