Karl could miss the first round of playoffs

DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets coach George Karl may miss the first round of the playoffs as he recovers from cancer treatments.

Karl’s life partner, Kim Van Deraa, told The Denver Post that Karl won’t return in the regular season and probably will also miss the first round of the playoffs.

“To count out all the playoffs, that’s up to his body,” she said. “Who knows when his return will be? No one knows. He doesn’t even know.”

Karl has been fighting throat and neck cancer during the past two months. He has finished radiation treatment and is set to have his final round of chemotherapy on Wednesday.

Van Deraa said Karl, who has lost nearly 25 pounds, struggles to speak and may have to feed himself liquids through a tube for another three to six months.

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