The Denver Nuggets will be without their star point guard Jamal Murray for Monday night’s marquee matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Head coach Michael Malone announced in his pregame media availability that the 27-year-old Murray sustained a sprained ankle during the team’s overtime victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday and will not suit up as the Nuggets host the Suns.
Murray, who missed the entire 2021-22 campaign recovering from a torn ACL, has battled various injuries over the past few seasons. The dynamic floor general sat out several games last year while dealing with ankle issues and assorted ailments. When healthy, Murray forms a lethal duo with back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic, powering a Nuggets squad with championship aspirations.
Injury Bug Bites Again
In 21 starts this season, Murray is averaging an impressive 19.1 points, 6.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and a career-best 1.6 steals per game. His ability to create for himself and others while applying pressure on the defensive end makes him invaluable to Denver’s attack. Unfortunately, Murray has once again fallen victim to the injury bug at an inopportune time.
The Nuggets currently sit atop the Western Conference standings, but their perch grows more precarious with each missed game from core rotation pieces. Murray’s backcourt running mate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is also out with a wrist sprain, thinning Denver’s depth as they prepare for a critical contest against a fellow West contender.
Next Man Up Mentality
With Murray watching from the sideline, the Nuggets will lean even more heavily on their supporting cast to weather this latest injury setback. Sharpshooter Bones Hyland should see an uptick in minutes and shot attempts, while rookie Christian Braun may be called upon to supply energy and defensive intensity. Of course, Jokic remains the primary engine that makes the Nuggets go, but he’ll need his teammates to step up in Murray’s stead.
“We’re hopeful that Jamal will be able to go on Wednesday night in Phoenix…but right now the most important thing is making sure he gets healthy.”
– Nuggets head coach Michael Malone
The silver lining for Denver is that this injury doesn’t appear to be a long-term concern at this stage. Coach Malone expressed optimism about Murray’s potential availability for Wednesday’s rematch with the Suns in Phoenix. The Nuggets’ medical staff will continue evaluating Murray over the coming days, but holding him out against the Suns is likely a precautionary measure.
Maintaining the Long View
As much as the Nuggets want to have Murray on the floor for pivotal games against direct rivals like the Suns, they must prioritize his health for the long haul. An ankle sprain is certainly preferable to another major knee injury, but Denver knows all too well the dangers of bringing a player back too soon. The focus must be on having Murray fit and firing for the postseason.
In the interim, Jokic and company will aim to keep the Nuggets afloat until their offensive sparkplug can return. The reigning MVP is more than capable of carrying an elevated burden, but the whole roster must contribute if Denver wants to make a deep playoff run and finally capitalize on this championship window. For however long Murray is out, it will take a total team effort to maintain the mile-high standard these Nuggets have set.
