The Denver Nuggets are currently in a solid spot in the Western Conference, as they are in sixth place. That is the final position outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament and they currently have a 2.5 game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are in seventh place.
Denver is certainly happy to have Nikola Jokic manning the middle, as the reigning MVP is actually playing at a higher level this season than he did last season. Jokic is a big reason that the Nuggets are having as successful of a season as they are as the team has suffered numerous injuries.
Denver has played all season without Jamal Murray, who tore his ACL on April 12, 2021. Michael Porter Jr., who signed a max rookie extension in the offseason that starts during the 2022-23 season, played nine games with an ailing back before undergoing another procedure.
Without those two players, the Denver Nuggets aren’t as dangerous of a team. They are likely a tier or two below the true contenders in the league, but could they be getting back on the court soon for a run late in the regular season into the postseason?
LATEST NBA NEWS & INJURY UPDATES: Nuggets Continue Finding Ways To Win With Key Players Injured
There is some optimism that both players will be back in the lineup for the playoffs. However, in a recent interview with Complex, Murray shared some insight into his rehab and just how tough of a process it has been. While the team is optimistic, he is taking a more cautious approach to answering when he may be back on the court.
“I’m too far to tell,” Murray said. “I’m obviously progressing every week. But I have my bad weeks where I can’t do the simple stuff and then I’ll have weeks where I feel like I can jump out of the gym. It’s just getting the stress pain down. Adding tolerance right now and trying to ramp it up. I don’t know. I’m in a good spot, I just don’t know the exact time right now.”
It is certainly encouraging to hear that things are progressing well in his rehab. Coming up on 11 months since the injury, he is likely still a few weeks, if not months, away from being able to return to the court.
LATEST NBA NEWS & INJURY UPDATES: Nuggets Continue Finding Ways To Win With Key Players Injured
With only 20 games remaining in the regular season, time is certainly ticking for Jamal Murray to make his debut this season. It would not be a surprise if he and the team decide to be cautious, sitting him out for the entire 2021-22 season so that he is 100 percent ready to go at the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
