Jamal Murray’s lingering hamstring injury is worse than initially feared.
And his availability for the start of the playoffs is uncertain. This is according to Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who expounded on Murray’s health ahead of Sunday’s 125-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers
The Nuggets ruled Murray out prior to tip for a fifth consecutive game with a hamstring injury that’s been designated at different times as inflammation and tightness. Before each of those games, Murray was listed as questionable before being ruled out on game day. Sunday’s loss was the fourth straight for the Nuggets with Murray out of the lineup.
Nikola Jokić had another big game against Indiana with 41 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. Christian Braun had one of the best games of his career with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. But the Nuggets committed multiple turnovers down the stretch of a close game and clearly missed the services of their starting point guard.
The loss dropped the Nuggets to 47-32 and into fourth place in the West, further at risk of falling into the play-in. The 46-32 Timberwolves are just a half game behind the Nuggets in the tightly packed standings and would claim the No. 7 seed and a spot in the play-in if the season ended Sunday.
Malone on Murray: ‘He’s hurt’
Malone spoke with reporters prior to the game about Murray’s health. He explained that Murray’s absence against the Pacers wasn’t simply precautionary.
“Jamal’s hurt,” Malone said, per the Denver Post’s Bennett Durando. “It’s not careful. He’s hurt. So there’s a big difference. Careful is if a guy can play and you want to be smart. We’re not in a situation to do that.”
Malone was then asked about Murray’s anticipated availability for the playoffs.
“Hopefully he’s able to be back by then,” Malone said. “This has been a weird one. It was day-to-day, day-to-day, and then next thing you know, it’s not day-to-day.”
That is not what Nuggets fans want to hear. After Sunday’s, loss the Nuggets have three games remaining before the start of the postseason.
Nuggets title hopes in peril if Murray is injured
Murray’s health and availability are critical to Denver’s hopes of competing for a second NBA championship in three seasons. Murray was healthy and starred during Denver’s run to the 2023 title.
He played in all 20 postseason games and averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 39.6% from 3. He hit multiple big shots during the postseason, including a buzzer-beater to beat the Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
Jokić was obviously the catalyst of that title run. But Murray’s performance was essential in securing the championship.
Murray played through a calf strain during the 2024 postseason. He was not nearly as effective with averages of 20.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from 3. Denver’s title defense fizzled out in a second-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray’s health wasn’t strictly to blame for Denver’s loss to a Timberwolves team that gave the Nuggets fits on defense and matched up exceptionally well. But it played a significant factor.
And if Murray is either unavailable or significantly hampered due to his hamstring this postseason, Denver’s hopes of navigating through the Western Conference are slim.
The Nuggets have the best player in basketball in Jokić. But as much as he tries, he can’t do it all. This week without Murray has proven as much. And Jokić’s the only All-Star on a roster that’s built with little margin for error.
Murray has played at times like an All-Star in the postseason. But a Nuggets team playing without Murray, Michael Porter Jr. or Aaron Gordon running on all cylinders will have a difficult time rising above the rest of a stacked Western Conference. That’s if Denver makes it into the full playoff field to begin with.
Jamal Murray’s lingering hamstring injury is worse than initially feared.
And his availability for the start of the playoffs is uncertain. This is according to Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who expounded on Murray’s health ahead of Sunday’s 125-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers
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The Nuggets ruled Murray out prior to tip for a fifth consecutive game with a hamstring injury that’s been designated at different times as inflammation and tightness. Before each of those games, Murray was listed as questionable before being ruled out on game day. Sunday’s loss was the fourth straight for the Nuggets with Murray out of the lineup.
Nikola Jokić had another big game against Indiana with 41 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. Christian Braun had one of the best games of his career with 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists. But the Nuggets committed multiple turnovers down the stretch of a close game and clearly missed the services of their starting point guard.
The loss dropped the Nuggets to 47-32 and into fourth place in the West, further at risk of falling into the play-in. The 46-32 Timberwolves are just a half game behind the Nuggets in the tightly packed standings and would claim the No. 7 seed and a spot in the play-in if the season ended Sunday.
Malone spoke with reporters prior to the game about Murray’s health. He explained that Murray’s absence against the Pacers wasn’t simply precautionary.
“Jamal’s hurt,” Malone said, per the Denver Post’s Bennett Durando. “It’s not careful. He’s hurt. So there’s a big difference. Careful is if a guy can play and you want to be smart. We’re not in a situation to do that.”
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Malone was then asked about Murray’s anticipated availability for the playoffs.
“Hopefully he’s able to be back by then,” Malone said. “This has been a weird one. It was day-to-day, day-to-day, and then next thing you know, it’s not day-to-day.”
That is not what Nuggets fans want to hear. After Sunday’s, loss the Nuggets have three games remaining before the start of the postseason.
Murray’s health and availability are critical to Denver’s hopes of competing for a second NBA championship in three seasons. Murray was healthy and starred during Denver’s run to the 2023 title.
He played in all 20 postseason games and averaged 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 39.6% from 3. He hit multiple big shots during the postseason, including a buzzer-beater to beat the Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
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Nikola Jokić was obviously the catalyst of that title run. But Murray’s performance was essential in securing the championship.
Murray played through a calf strain during the 2024 postseason. He was not nearly as effective with averages of 20.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from 3. Denver’s title defense fizzled out in a second-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray’s health wasn’t strictly to blame for Denver’s loss to a Timberwolves team that gave the Nuggets fits on defense and matched up exceptionally well. But it played a significant factor.
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And if Murray is either unavailable or significantly hampered due to his hamstring this postseason, Denver’s hopes of navigating through the Western Conference are slim.
The Nuggets have the best player in basketball in Jokić. But as much as he tries, he can’t do it all. This week without Murray has proven as much. And Jokić’s the only All-Star on a roster that’s built with little margin for error.
Murray has played at times like an All-Star in the postseason. But a Nuggets team playing without Murray, Michael Porter Jr. or Aaron Gordon running on all cylinders will have a difficult time rising above the rest of a stacked Western Conference. That’s if Denver makes it into the full playoff field to begin with.
