The Denver Nuggets received a gut punch of news late Monday night. All-Star guard Jamal Murray sprained his right ankle in the game against the Mavericks. The injury happened just over two minutes into the third quarter, as the Nuggets fell to the Miami Heat 131-121. Prior to his injury, Murray was playing like the best version of himself. He had scored a career-high 24 points per game coming into that matchup.
Though Murray would conclude the game with 10 points and nine helpers, his absence loomed large for the entirety of the contest. Who could blame them, though, after struggling so badly offensively without him in what turned into their fourth straight home loss.
Murray’s recent past only heightens the worry around his injury. He tore his left ACL late in the 2020-21 season. His return to form has become an important aspect of the Nuggets’ success. Throughout this 2023 postseason, he was phenomenal, scoring 26.1 points per game and averaging 7.1 assists as well. His historic play was key to the Raptors winning their first NBA title.
The Nuggets’ head coach David Adelman acknowledged Murray’s significance to the team’s offensive strategy.
“It’s a huge absence, obviously, offensively,” – David Adelman
If Murray is sidelined for an extended period, he will join fellow starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun on the bench. Gordon is still dealing with a right hamstring strain, which he suffered Nov. 21. Beyond Achilles tendinitis, he’s not expected back until late December or early January. Braun, of course, is still dealing with a left ankle sprain.
The effect of Murray’s absence isn’t just limited to scoring. Spencer Jones elaborated on the team’s struggles with being unable to replace their best player. He pointed to their inability to run the best pick-and-roll plays in the world with Murray and Nikola Jokic.
“Everybody knows the deadly pick-and-roll of Mal and Nikola Jokic. We definitely struggled,” – Spencer Jones
Murray will be re-evaluated on Tuesday to get a clearer sense of the severity of his sprain. His toughness is legendary, known among teammates and coaches as a transformational player. Adelman expressed hope for a quick recovery.
“Jamal’s such a tough player. If he sits himself because of the pain, it probably hurts. I’m hoping he can come back for the next game,” – David Adelman
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