The Denver Nuggets are limping their way into the All-Star break-literally. This season has been a grind, not just in the standings, but physically. Injuries have hit the roster hard and often, forcing Denver to adapt on the fly and lean heavily on whoever’s healthy enough to suit up.
Nikola Jokić, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson have all missed meaningful time. And the hits just keep coming.
Peyton Watson is now expected to miss a stretch with a hamstring issue, while Spencer Jones remains sidelined in concussion protocol. It’s been a revolving door of absences, and the Nuggets have rarely had their full core available.
So yeah, the All-Star break can’t come soon enough.
“It helps us get healthy,” Jamal Murray said after Denver’s win over the Bulls. “We've had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup.
This extra week of doing nothing or rehabbing will hopefully get guys back a little sooner than normal. It's just a good week of rest.”
Murray, of course, isn’t exactly at 100% himself. He left Saturday’s 136-120 win over Chicago in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly on a drive, tweaking his left hip.
That moment had Nuggets fans collectively holding their breath. With Jokić missing time, Murray has carried a heavy load-both as a scorer and a leader.
Head coach David Adelman knows exactly how much Murray is pushing through.
“Jamal's got like, you name it. Ankle, knee.
He's playing through a lot. He's doing it for his team,” Adelman said.
That’s not just coach-speak. Murray’s been gutting it out, and it’s showing in his play. He’s been the steadying presence through the chaos, the guy Denver keeps turning to when the rotation is in flux and the scoreboard is tight.
Despite all the injuries, the Nuggets have managed to stay afloat-and then some. They’re sitting third in the Western Conference, a testament to their depth, resilience, and the MVP-caliber brilliance of Jokić when he’s on the floor. But make no mistake: this team is running on fumes.
They’ll get one last test before the break with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. After that, it’s all about rest, recovery, and hopefully getting the band back together for the stretch run.
Because if the Nuggets can finally get healthy-and that’s a big if-they’re still one of the most dangerous teams in the league.