1 week Ago By Andrei De Guzman, NBA Analysis Network
At the worst possible time, the Denver Nuggets are suddenly spiralling. With over a week left before the opening of the NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets are enduring a tough losing stretch. The Nuggets’ slide began when Nikola Jokic’s historic 61-point triple-double was wasted in their double-overtime loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves With a 47-32 card and only leading 0.
5 games over the current eighth-seed Memphis Grizzlies , the Nuggets are now on a four-game losing skid and in danger of dropping as low as the Play-In Tournament. Michael Malone drops alarming injury update about Jamal Murray A major factor of the Nuggets’ worsening situation has been the prolonged absence of Jamal Murray . The Nuggets star has already missed his fifth straight game for the team as he nurses a right hamstring inflammation.
In the pregame of Denver’s eventual 125-120 loss against the Indiana Pacers, head coach Michael Malone dropped intriguing remarks about how the team carefully handles Murray’s condition while keeping him out for the past couple of games. “Jamal’s hurt. It’s not careful.
He’s hurt,” Malone said. “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. There are six teams vying for four [playoff] spots. “So if Jamal Murray is not out there, it’s not careful.
It’s because he literally just is not able to play at the moment.” As he was asked if the Canadian guard will soon find himself back to the Nuggets lineup as the postseason approaches, the Denver mentor went on to express alarming words. “Hopefully he’s able to be back by [the playoffs],” 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.” Malone believes Nuggets can step up out of Murray’s ongoing absence This season Murray has been averaging 21.
6 points to go with 6.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.
4 steals in 36.3 minutes across 65 appearances. Fresh from signing a lucrative four-year, max extension worth $208 million, Murray saw plenty of ups and downs this season from struggling to find his groove and eventually bouncing back with a career performance in January .
Murray stands as the Nuggets’ second-best player behind Nikola Jokic. His scoring outburst and clutch takeover will be badly needed by Denver once Playoff time hits the clock. With Murray still out on an uncertain basis, Malone will constantly preach a next man up mentality across the Nuggets in order for them to hold down the line at the most critical segment of the season.
“Obviously a big loss for us but we have more than enough,” Malone said. We’ve shown that time and time again in that locker room. “So if Jamal is unable to go, we need other guys to step up and play hard.
Play desperate and play urgent because I don’t know if we’re getting that from everybody right now. And we need that.” With three games left into their regular season calendar, pressure time is on the Nuggets.
Until Murray comes back healthy and available, they have to do whatever it takes to keep their playoff chances alive. This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission..
