The Denver Nuggets are heading into a big Friday night matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, and all eyes are on Jamal Murray’s status. The star guard is officially listed as questionable, dealing with inflammation in both his right hamstring and left hip-an unfortunate double whammy for a player who's been playing some of the best basketball of his career.
Murray suited up Thursday night against the Washington Wizards and didn’t look like someone battling through injuries. He dropped 24 points, grabbed four boards, and dished out five assists in 36 minutes.
But with the Bucks game coming on the second night of a back-to-back, Denver may opt to be cautious. That’s often the case when dealing with soft tissue issues like hamstring inflammation-especially when you’re managing multiple lower-body concerns.
This isn’t the first time this season Murray has had to navigate through injuries. He missed time earlier in the month with an ankle issue but has since played in six straight games.
And through it all, he’s been making a serious push for his first All-Star nod. While he’s flirted with that level in previous seasons, this year he’s putting it all together in a way that’s hard to ignore.
Through 41 of Denver’s 45 games, Murray has been logging over 35 minutes a night and putting up career-best numbers: 26.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. His efficiency has been elite-he’s shooting 49% from the field, a scorching 44.8% from beyond the arc, and 89.2% from the free-throw line. Those are numbers you usually see from players already penciled into the All-Star Game, not ones still fighting for their first invite.
As for tonight’s game in Milwaukee, Murray’s availability will likely come down to a game-time decision. The Nuggets will weigh his long-term health against the immediate challenge of facing one of the East’s top teams on the road.
Here’s where the rest of Denver’s injury report stands heading into the night:
- Tamar Bates is out following left foot surgery.
- Christian Braun remains sidelined with a left ankle sprain.
- Aaron Gordon is listed as probable with a right hamstring strain.
- Cameron Johnson is out due to a right knee bone bruise.
- Nikola Jokic, the reigning Finals MVP, is also out with a left knee bone bruise.
- Jonas Valanciunas is questionable with a right calf strain.
- Peyton Watson is questionable, managing both a right ankle strain and a left ankle sprain.
On the Bucks’ side:
- Alex Antetokounmpo is out on a G League two-way assignment.
- AJ Green is questionable due to illness.
- Kevin Porter Jr. remains out with an oblique muscle strain.
- Taurean Prince is out following neck surgery.
- Gary Trent Jr. is also questionable with an illness.
- Myles Turner is listed as probable with a left ankle sprain.
So while Denver’s injury list is long, the biggest question mark remains Jamal Murray. He’s been the engine behind the Nuggets’ backcourt lately, and his presence-or absence-could swing the balance in what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes showdown in Milwaukee.