Nuggets' Faried, Chandler out with injuries against Suns

DENVER - The Denver Nuggets are without banged-up forwards Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler on Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Faried is sidelined with a bruised left thumb, which he hurt in the first half Monday against Brooklyn. Chandler is missing a second straight game due to a sore left groin. Chandler said the move was precautionary and he hopes to return Friday against Utah.

The news that Faried couldn't play caught Nuggets coach Brian Shaw a little by surprise since the high energy forward practiced the day before.

Shaw said of Faried: ''It was his call and he said he wasn't going to be able to play tonight. You can't question that. He knows himself better than anybody else does.''

Faried is averaging 11.3 points and 8.6 rebounds this season.