Jamal Murray Sprains Ankle, Nuggets Face Major Setback

UPDATE: The Denver Nuggets are facing a critical situation as point guard Jamal Murray sprained his right ankle during a disappointing 131-121 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on November 27, 2023. Concerns are mounting about Murray’s availability moving forward after he sustained the injury early in the third quarter.

After gingerly making his way to the locker room, Murray briefly returned to finish the period. However, he did not appear on the bench for the final twelve minutes, raising alarms among fans and teammates. Nuggets coach David Adelman stated that Murray will undergo evaluation on Tuesday, emphasizing the potential impact of his absence. “It’s a huge absence, obviously, offensively,” Adelman remarked.

The Nuggets are already grappling with injuries to key players. Murray, who was averaging a career-high 24 points per game, managed only 10 points and 9 assists in last night’s game. His absence could be felt even more acutely as the team is already without starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun due to their own injuries.

Spencer Jones, who scored a career-high 28 points against the Mavericks, acknowledged the significance of Murray’s role, particularly in the crucial moments of the game. “Everybody knows the deadly pick-and-roll of Mal and Nikola Jokic. We definitely struggled,” he said.

Murray’s history adds to the concern. He previously tore his left ACL late in the 2020-21 season and was instrumental in the Nuggets’ run to their first NBA championship during the 2023 postseason, averaging 26.1 points and 7.1 assists.

If Murray is sidelined, he will join Gordon, out since November 21 with a right hamstring injury, and Braun, who sprained his ankle on November 12 and is expected to miss at least six weeks. Both players are crucial to the team’s defensive strategies, and their absence has been noticeably felt.

Adelman remains resolute despite the injury woes, stating, “I’m not going to come in here any night and sit down and talk about guys that are out. We have enough here to be more consistent defensively.”

The Nuggets are poised to face tough challenges ahead as they navigate this injury crisis. Fans are eagerly awaiting further updates on Murray’s condition, as his recovery will be pivotal for the team’s performance in the coming games.