DETROIT — Jamal Murray is unlikely to return during the remainder of the Nuggets’ five-game road trip this week, coach Michael Malone said Monday afternoon, meaning the point guard is expected to miss Denver’s in-season tournament group stage finale Friday in Houston.
The Nuggets’ game against the Pistons on Monday night is the seventh Murray has missed since suffering a strained right hamstring Nov. 4 vs. the Bulls. Entering the matchup in Detroit, Denver (9-4) was 3-3 without Murray — perfect at home, winless on the road. Reggie Jackson has taken his place in the starting lineup.
“He’s progressing, but I think there’s still some work to be done for him to get back and to be cleared,” Malone said.
Murray has been traveling with the team while injured. As the Nuggets were attempting to complete a 20-point comeback last Friday at New Orleans, he was involved in the huddle and having conversations with Malone and lead assistant coach David Adelman.
“I think it speaks to just his engagement,” Malone said. “I think Jamal is a guy that is, whether he’s playing or he’s not playing, he cares about his teammates. He cares about the team, and he’s gonna do everything he can to help. Right now we’re playing a lot of young payers, so the impact that Jamal can have on a Jalen Pickett or a Collin or a Julian, Peyton, whoever it may be, that can be really impactful. So you love to see how engaged he is and how into the games he is as well.”
Murray was averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 assists per game when he sustained the injury early in the second quarter vs. Chicago.
The Nuggets close their trip with games in Detroit, Orlando and Houston. They are 2-1 in group play as the first portion of the inaugural in-season tournament comes to a close Friday. The Nuggets need a win over the Rockets to have any chance to advance to the eight-team knockout stage, and a New Orleans loss is also necessary for them to win their group.
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