National Basketball Association

Fernandez likely to miss rest of season

Published Mar. 22, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Denver Nuggets say reserve guard Rudy Fernandez will undergo surgery on his lower back that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season.

The team did not announce a date for the procedure.

Fernandez has been bothered by a strained lower back that caused him to miss a dozen games earlier this season. He recently returned to the lineup, only to have the ailment surface again in a contest against Dallas last Monday. It led to more tests and further evaluation.

The 26-year-old Fernandez averaged 8.6 points and 2.4 assists for the Nuggets. He was acquired, along with Corey Brewer, in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 13.