It looks like the Nuggets will have to make it without Jamal Murray for the rest of the month or more. Murray has been a key player for the reigning NBA champions, and his absence can likely make things difficult for them.
The pressure will fall onto the shoulders of Nikola Jokic and the rest of the squad to cope with a playstyle that doesn’t involve the talents of Jamal. They faced the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night and were able to snatch a slim victory over the Dubs.
Jamal Murray injury update
The Nuggets are taking extra caution in the injury case of Jamal Murray. He has suffered a strain on his right hamstring and is expected to be out for weeks. He had played in the Nuggets’ matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday where the reigning champions were able to secure the win. However, Murray was put to rest in the next match on Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Judging by the expected recovery time, Murray is expected to not return before the second week of December. It is highly likely that Reggie Jackson will be starting in the point guard position in his absence. So far, Jackson has performed well this season, and the bench has also proved its worth. Earlier, the Nuggets used to struggle in the non-Nikola Jokic minutes during which they conceded the most.
However, this season things are different, and the Nuggets seem to do well even without Jokic. Michael Malone, the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, talked with ESPN about Murray’s injury and expressed his thoughts. He said, “This will be something longer than we would like. You have to keep the big picture in mind and make sure we are putting him in a position to get healthy before he comes back.”
How crucial is Jamal Murray to Nuggets team?
Jamal Murray is exceptionally crucial to the Denver Nuggets and his absence will be felt in the team. Murray has been a key player who has performed and initiated attacks in many important matches for the team. As a dynamic scorer he can take over games at any moment. In the 2023 playoffs, Murray has averaged 27.2 points per game eight of which were games where he had scored more than 30 points.
He forms a dynamic duo with the ace of the Nuggets Nikola Jokic, who is arguably the best player in the NBA right now. The deadly pick-and-roll duo of Jokic and Murray is virtually unstoppable when they both get going. Jokic is one of the best passers in NBA history, and Murray is one of the best pick-and-roll shooters.
On the defensive side, Murray is a great defender. He can guard multiple positions and has a great understanding of positioning. Overall, he is a great asset to the Nuggets and played a big part in their last season’s championship run. His absence will be felt and possibly hurt the Nuggets as well. But they can only focus on the games ahead and hope for Murray’s speedy recovery.
When do you think Jamal Murray will return? Do you think the Nuggets can manage with Murray? We would love to hear from you, so drop your thoughts in the comment box below.
