MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kenneth Faried was not with the Nuggets for Friday night’s game against the Grizzlies. He was back in Denver awaiting the birth of his second child.
Faried left Memphis on Friday morning with the blessing of coach Michael Malone, who has two children.
“Kenneth went home to be with his girl, and I think that’s more important,” Malone said. “Being the father of two, anytime you can be there for the birth of your child, especially your first born, it’s such an important moment in your life as a family. So we wish Kenneth and his girl nothing but the best.”
Malone said the timing didn’t matter at all.
“We can have our own schedules, but children, babies, they’re on their own timeline,” Malone said. “So, they come when they want to.”
Emmanuel Mudiay injury update
Rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay remained unable to play because of a sprained deltoid in his right ankle, but he did participate in the shootaround.
“It felt good getting out there getting more reps up, getting with the second unit,” Mudiay said. “It gave me confidence being on the same unit with Will (Barton). J.J. (Hickson) was on it, Randy (Foye). They definitely keep me encouraged, keep me having fun.”
Mudiay is day to day because of the injury. His next chance to play will be Sunday at home against Charlotte.
“It’s still not 100 percent,” Malone said. “I don’t know if he’ll get back to 100 percent before the season ends, to be honest. But it’s still not to a point where I don’t know if he has the confidence in it or the medical staff has the confidence. So, hopefully, Sunday against Charlotte.”
Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post
