Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur sat out Friday night’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers because of a strained lower left leg. He is considered day to day.
Arthur suffered the injury during the second half of the Nuggets’ loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. He practiced Thursday, but he was so sore Friday, coach Brian Shaw ruled him out after the pregame shootaround.
“Right at the end of (Wednesday’s) game, it was about three minutes (left) or so, and he motioned for me to take him out,” Shaw said. “I was going to put (Jusuf) Nurkic in, and then he said, ‘No, I’m OK.’ He finished the game out, but it bothered him. Which was why Thursday, I was giving him a maintenance day, but he still came out and practiced.
“So I think that area, whether he got kicked or whatever, I think it’s just inflamed and needs to calm down.”
More minutes for Nurkic? Nurkic, a rookie center, has played himself into what would be considered prime backup minutes — if he can keep himself on the court to claim them.
He has fouled out twice in his 13 appearances. And in games when he has played at least 12 minutes (a total of seven after playing 17 minutes against the Clippers), he’s had no fewer than three fouls and committed four fouls or more four times.
“The only thing that is keeping him from playing more is himself with being in foul trouble,” Shaw said. “On the defensive side, he has a unique ability to reach with his hands and get deflections on balls. … I don’t want to take that ability away from him, but he has to balance when to do that or move his feet and stay in front of his opponent.
“I love his physicality and the fact that he is fearless. And offensively, he understands how to play the game, and he’s one of our best passing big men.
“I want to give him some more minutes; (he) just needs to stay out of foul trouble.”
Nurkic, who was averaging 4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 fouls entering Friday’s game, scored eight points and had two rebounds against the Clippers.
Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post
