The Denver Nuggets caught a bad break with injuries before the NBA season even began. Guard Jamal Murray, has a chance to return this season, but is out indefinitely. Forward Michael Porter Jr. was just ruled out for the season and the Nuggets received another tough update concerning guard Austin Rivers.
Denver will now be without Dozier, Murray, Porter and Rivers going forward with JaMychal Green banged up as well as Barton, Jokic, and Nnaji JUST returning from injury.
What horrible luck for the Nuggets. https://t.co/iq4FxFzWaX
— T.J. McBride (@TJMcBrideNBA) December 1, 2021
The Denver Nuggets can't catch a break. So not only is Jamal Murray out, but Michael Porter Jr., P.J. Dozier, who recently tore his ACL, and Austin Rivers are also sidelined with JaMychal Green nursing an injury as well? And if that wasn't enough, Bones Hyland, who is also in the NBA's health and safety protocols, will also miss time. That is brutal.
The Nuggets will have to rely on star center Nikola Jokic, who just returned from an injury of his own, and forward Will Barton, even more going forward. Fortunately, Jokic should be up to the task, as he leads all players in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating, 35.5, while putting up his usual blend of do-it-all statistics. Barton, averaging career-highs in points and assists, has been a pleasant surprise.
The Nuggets should be able to navigate the regular season with the pieces they do have, even in a rigorous Western Conference. What is deeply concerning, however, is how a squad with NBA title aspirations is going to make it through the postseason without so many players believed to be cornerstones of said quest for title.
The worst part of it is, it's all a result of the Nuggets' brutal luck.
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