Injury Updates and Rising Talent: What’s Happening in the Northwest Division
The Denver Nuggets dodged a major scare Monday night when star guard Jamal Murray exited the game against Dallas with a right ankle sprain. Fortunately for Denver, early signs point to the injury being relatively minor. Murray is already listed as questionable for Wednesday’s matchup in Indiana, which means there’s a realistic chance he won’t miss any time at all.
That’s a welcome bit of optimism for a Nuggets squad that’s been dealing with a tough stretch of injuries. Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon remain sidelined, and the team could’ve really used a healthy Julian Strawther to help fill the gap. But Strawther is set to miss his ninth straight game due to a lingering back issue - and based on the latest update, there’s still no clear timetable for his return.
“He’s been doing minimal movement stuff,” head coach David Adelman said earlier this week. “He was on the exercise machines today.
I think it’s just a process of the treatment working and then seeing where it leads to, just through activity. But not basketball activity or physicality.”
Adelman added that the injury didn’t stem from any in-game contact. Instead, Strawther simply woke up the day after a game in serious discomfort - something anyone who’s dealt with back pain can relate to.
“It wasn’t in-game. It was an off day after a game,” Adelman explained.
“He just woke up with pain, and then it got considerably worse. Anybody that’s had back issues - I have - it sucks.
Like, you can’t do anything. No mobility.
So we’re just trying to work our way through it.”
Thunder Chasing History?
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, the buzz is growing - and for good reason. The Thunder are off to a blistering 21-1 start, and naturally, the question is starting to surface: Could this team actually break the NBA’s single-season wins record?
That mark, of course, belongs to the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who went 73-9. And at least one member of that historic squad thinks the Thunder have a real shot.
“I do think they’re capable,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said this week. “You just need so many things to go right, though - from health... but they kind of plow right through health (issues), so it don’t matter, it seems.
You need a lot of breaks to go your way, but they’re on the right track. I think 73 wins took some years off my life.
But like I said, they’re capable of a lot.”
The Thunder’s success has been fueled by a deep, balanced roster, and one of the most intriguing pieces in that puzzle is Chet Holmgren. After missing all of last season with a fractured pelvis, Holmgren has returned with poise, skill, and a defensive presence that’s already making a huge impact. As detailed in a recent feature, Holmgren’s long rehab process has only added to his maturity and understanding of the game - and his teammates believe he’s just scratching the surface of what he can become.
Walker Kessler Staying Locked In
In Utah, the Jazz are without big man Walker Kessler for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, but the second-year center hasn’t checked out. Far from it. According to head coach Will Hardy, Kessler has remained “very engaged,” staying involved in practices and film sessions even though he’s not traveling with the team just yet.
“We’ll address the travel part a little bit further into his rehab,” Hardy said. “I want Walker around the team.
Rehab can be very isolating, and I don’t think that’s good for Walker. But that’ll be a little bit further down the road as his rehab gets more established.”
It’s clear the Jazz see Kessler as a long-term piece, and keeping him plugged into the team culture while he rehabs is a smart move.
Timberwolves Rookie Earning Respect
And up in Minnesota, Timberwolves rookie Joan Beringer hasn’t seen much court time yet this season, but he’s already turning heads behind the scenes. A Western Conference scout recently noted that “people in that building rave about how willing he is to learn.”
Beringer, a 19-year-old big man, is taking a patient approach - focusing on defense, energy, and doing the little things right when he gets his chances.
“If I play five, six, seven minutes, I try to be good in my role, and the coach pushes me in this way,” Beringer said.
It’s a mature mindset for a young player, and with Minnesota’s strong start this season, Beringer’s development could quietly become an X-factor down the stretch.
Injuries are part of the grind, and right now, several Northwest Division teams are navigating them in different ways - whether it’s Denver hoping for a quick return from Murray, OKC riding a historic wave, or young players like Beringer and Holmgren stepping into bigger roles. One thing’s clear: the Northwest is full of storylines, and we’re just getting started.