Nuggets will rest Gallinari Friday; likely to sit back-to-backs

In likely a sign of things to come, the Denver Nuggets will rest Danilo Gallinari for the second time in three games when they take on the Miami Heat Friday.

The Nuggets, who rested Gallinari on the second night of a back-to-back earlier this week, are coming off a loss to the Houston Rockets last Friday in which Gallinari logged nearly 34 minutes.

The 26-year-old Italian forward is still working his way back to full strength from a torn ACL he sustained in his left knee in 2013 that required three surgeries, and a meniscus tear in his right knee that was surgically repaired only a few months ago.

Gallinari, who missed the entire 2013-14 season, is averaging 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists on a career-worst 37.5 percent shooting.

There have been some encouraging signs lately that the old Gallo is slowly rounding into form, however, as he's averaging about 17 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal on a 41-38-90 shooting split over the last 15 games dating back to Feb. 20.

With the Nuggets all but eliminated from the Western Conference playoff race and Gallinari owed more than $11.5 million next year, the team would be wise to find him some rest over the season's final month.