The Denver Nuggets welcomed three injured forwards back to the rotation Friday night against New York, but the reunion of their opening-night starters was short-lived when Jamal Murray sprained his left ankle late in the second quarter and did not return.
Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), Cameron Johnson (right ankle inflammation) and Spencer Jones (right shoulder strain) all suited up for the first time since Gordon missed 17 consecutive games. Head coach David Adelman limited Gordon’s minutes, yet center Nikola Jokić said the 6-foot-8 forward’s defensive presence was immediately felt. “Their length and their ability to guard, we kind of miss more,” Jokić noted, also referencing injured wing Peyton Watson.
Friday marked the first appearance of Denver’s initial starting five—Murray, Christian Braun, Johnson, Gordon and Jokić—since Nov. 12. Murray, 29, will be reevaluated Saturday. “Every time we get somebody back I feel like somebody else goes out,” Adelman said. “Whatever group we have that is healthy for OKC on Sunday … we just have to play a hell of a lot better.”
Pistons
Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff expects rookie wing Ausar Thompson to miss “multiple games” with a right ankle sprain. Bickerstaff added, “I think it’s going to be a minute,” when asked about a timetable. Guard Cade Cunningham (left quadriceps contusion) was downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday’s matchup with Brooklyn and is listed day-to-day.
Hawks
Atlanta forward Jonathan Kuminga will sit out a second straight contest Saturday against Philadelphia because of left knee inflammation, according to the team.
Magic
Orlando guard Anthony Black sustained a low back strain in the first quarter Saturday at Minnesota and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. The former lottery pick had recently missed two games—his first absences of the season—due to a right quad contusion.
Source: Hoops Rumors
