MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has missed a New Jersey municipal court date stemming from traffic tickets he received after a fatal car crash.

Smith faces a contempt charge, but no warrant was issued for his arrest.

Lawyer Greg Mordas took the blame for Smith not being at Tuesday's pretrial conference. He promised the Freehold native would attend the next scheduled appearance in Millstone on Feb. 17.

A grand jury decided not to indict Smith on criminal charges for driving in a crash that killed a friend who was in his SUV in 2007.

Smith faces five traffic charges in the case: improper passing, failure to stop, speeding, reckless driving and failure to wear a seat-belt.

A trial has not been scheduled.