With just a few games left in the schedule, the Denver Nuggets are 48-32. Furthermore, they own the No. 4 seed in the West but are just one game behind the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers. As the playoffs approach, the Nuggets will look to win as much as possible and improve their standings. Fortunately for them, they received a major injury update regarding Jamal Murray that should bode well for them.
Murray has missed each of the Nuggets’ last six games due to a hamstring injury. The Nuggets are 2-4 in those six games. On Friday, the Nuggets will host the Memphis Grizzlies in their final home game of the regular season. According to a report from The Athletic (subscription required), the Canadian native will “likely” return on Friday.
“The chance to accomplish something significant is at hand, especially with Jamal Murray — according to team sources — likely to return from his six-game absence (hamstring injury) on Friday at Memphis.”
In 65 games this season, Murray is averaging 21.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Denver Nuggets Guard Jamal Murray Receives Major Injury Update
Nuggets Making Major Trade This Offseason?
Recently, the Nuggets shockingly cleaned house–firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. However, more changes could be in line for Denver in the offseason. According to Hardwood Paroxysm of The Denver Dig, the Nuggets may have interest in trading Michael Porter Jr. to gain assets. However, the trade market is reportedly cool on Porter, making a trade unlikely.
“The Nuggets knew entering the year they were short on shooting. Booth said as much at media day. But he was unable to do anything at the deadline because he exhausted his second-round assets to dump Reggie Jackson to sign Russell Westbrook and the first-rounders had already been dealt. The young talent had no value.”
“Trading Michael Porter Jr. was the most obvious pathway, but sources say not only was the market cool on Porter for multiple reasons but ownership had said two months before the deadline they were against trading Porter.”
Regardless, this is something worth monitoring in the offseason. If the Nuggets suffer another early playoff exit, they may be motivated to make another major move. As it stands, a trade involving Porter seems like a legitimate option.
The Last Word
The Nuggets’ regular season is coming to an end, and they do not have much time to gain momentum. They are 9-11 since the start of March, and they will have a tall task in front of them in the playoffs, no matter who they go up against. Regardless, as long as Nikola Jokic is on the team, the Nuggets will always be a team to keep an eye on in the postseason. However, the West is stacked this year, and a deep playoff run is not guaranteed for Denver. They remain a team to monitor in the playoffs. After winning their first title in franchise history in 2023, they will look to make it back later this year.
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