DALLAS – Nuggets guard returned in Saturday’s win over Orlando after a one-game absence with a sprained right ankle.
Mudiay’s four-point, two-assist game against the Magic was not up to his typical averages of 12.7 points and 3.7 assists this season. But the second-year point guard feels like the injured ankle is getting better.
“Itap been a tough little stretch the past few games,” Mudiay said, “but I’m just trying to get back healthy and stay right. Just being out there really helped me out, felt good.”
The game against the Mavericks represented a homecoming of sorts for Mudiay, whose family settled in Dallas after leaving his home country of the Congo during the Second Congo War.
“Definitely went and saw family,” Mudiay said of the trip to Dallas. “Itap always a good feeling to be back home. Never take that for granted.”
Career night. Spanish rookie Juan Hernangomez took advantage of the extra playing time Denver’s injury issues granted him against Orlando.
The 6-foot-9 forward, taken with the Nuggets’ first-round pick in June’s draft, set a career-high with 14 points. He made four of his five 3-point attempts and added four rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes.
“It didn’t surprise me at all. The kid works very, very hard,” head coach Michael Malone said. “One thing I know with Juancho when he plays, he’s going to play hard, he’s going to fight and he’s going to compete. If he hits four 3s on top of that, thatap even better.”
Footnotes. Small forward returned to action against Dallas after missing the Orlando win with a hip issue. He is averaging 18.0 points and 7.6 rebounds this season. … Monday’s game marked the end of a six-game road trip for the Nuggets. The team will play six of its next eight games at home, starting Thursday against Portland.
