The Denver Nuggets didn’t just take a hit on the scoreboard Monday night-they took one in the backcourt, too. In a 131-121 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Denver saw star point guard Jamal Murray go down with a right ankle sprain in the third quarter, adding yet another name to their already crowded injury list.
Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets difficulty to execute without Jamal Murray in the lineup: pic.twitter.com/zm76L7QBOk
— Rachel Strand (@MileHighRachel) December 2, 2025
Murray’s injury came early in the third, and while he tried to gut it out-true to form-he ultimately couldn’t finish the game. He headed to the locker room limping, came back to test it, but never returned to the floor.
He spent the rest of the night on the bench, watching his team drop its fourth straight home game. Before exiting, Murray logged 26 minutes, finishing with 10 points, nine assists, and four rebounds.
After the game, interim head coach David Adelman didn’t have a timeline but made it clear: if Murray pulls himself out, it’s serious.
“I don’t know how he’s doing,” Adelman said. “I know he tried, because that’s Jamal.
Jamal is tough. If he sits himself because of the pain, you know it hurts.
I’m hoping it was just something that happened tonight and he can get treatment the next two days, and we can see him come back.”
That’s the hope, but the reality is the Nuggets are now staring down a stretch without three key starters. If Murray misses time, he’ll join Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun on the injury report-both already dealing with lower-body injuries of their own.
Gordon has been out since November 21 with a right hamstring strain and isn’t expected back until late December or early January. Braun has been sidelined since November 12 with a left ankle sprain and is looking at a six-week recovery window.
It’s a tough spot for a Denver team trying to find its rhythm in the middle of a grueling Western Conference slate. The offense runs differently without Murray’s shot creation and playmaking, and his chemistry with Nikola Jokic is a major engine for the Nuggets’ half-court sets.
Jokic, who continues to shoulder a massive load, acknowledged how much Murray means to this team-but also made it clear that there’s no time for excuses.
“He’s a great player for us,” Jokic said. “He can score, he can get other people involved.
But if someone is down, we cannot think about him. Some other guy needs to step up, and we need to find a way to win a game.”
That’s the championship mindset, and it’s what Denver will need in the coming days. Whether it’s Reggie Jackson stepping into a bigger role, or more minutes for rookies and bench contributors, the Nuggets will have to dig into their depth and find answers fast.
Murray is set to be evaluated Tuesday, and the team should have a clearer picture of his status soon. But for now, the defending champs are in a bit of a holding pattern-waiting on health, searching for rhythm, and trying to keep pace in a loaded West.