The Denver Nuggets are already walking a tightrope with injuries, and Tuesday night in Dallas might’ve tilted the balance a little too far. In a 131-130 heartbreaker against the Mavericks, Denver not only dropped a game they could’ve won, but they also saw one of their key offseason additions, Cam Johnson, exit late with a knee sprain.
The injury came in the fourth quarter as Johnson came down awkwardly while fighting for a defensive rebound. He didn’t return, and the visible pain on his face told the story.
Head coach David Adelman didn’t sugarcoat it afterward, saying, “Hopefully it’s better than it looked.” That’s not exactly the reassurance Nuggets fans were hoping for. Johnson is scheduled to undergo an MRI, and until those results come in, there’s going to be a lot of anxious waiting in the Mile High City.
Let’s not forget how much Denver invested in bringing Johnson to town. The Nuggets sent Michael Porter Jr.-a key piece of their 2023 championship run-and a 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn to land the veteran forward.
The move wasn’t just about shaking things up; it was about reshaping the roster around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray with a shooter who could stretch the floor and defend his position. Johnson fit that mold perfectly.
Through the early part of the season, the seventh-year forward had been finding his rhythm in Denver. He’s averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting an impressive 46.2% from the field and a lights-out 42.3% from beyond the arc.
That kind of efficiency-especially from deep-has been a natural complement to Jokic’s playmaking and Murray’s scoring. Johnson doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact, and that’s exactly what Denver envisioned when they made the deal.
But now, the Nuggets are staring at a potential depth crisis. Already without Christian Braun, who’s nursing an ankle sprain, and Aaron Gordon, still ramping back up after a hamstring strain, Denver’s rotation is starting to thin out at the worst possible time.
They currently sit third in the Western Conference, but the standings are packed tighter than a Christmas Day slate. Just two-and-a-half games separate them from sixth place, and a short losing streak could send them tumbling.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Denver-they’ve weathered injuries before-but the margin for error is shrinking. If Johnson is out for an extended period, it’s going to test both the roster’s resilience and the front office’s vision for this retooled group.
For now, all eyes are on that MRI. The Nuggets need good news, and they need it fast.