DENVER — The injury list keeps growing for the Denver Nuggets. Center Jonas Valanciunas will be re-evaluated in four weeks after suffering a right calf strain, the club announced Thursday. The 31-year-old was hurt during the third quarter of Wednesday’s road victory over Toronto while making his first start of the season in place of injured MVP Nikola Jokic, who remains sidelined at least four more weeks with a left knee issue.
Head coach Michael Malone’s rotation is now even thinner. Denver already started Wednesday without four regular starters and must navigate the next month minus its primary reserve big man as well. Valanciunas, logging a career-low 13.3 minutes per night, has averaged 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 33 appearances. Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes II and Zeke Nnaji are candidates for expanded front-court roles while both Valanciunas and Jokic recover.
Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State will sit forward Draymond Green on Friday when the Warriors host the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told ESPN. The contest opens a back-to-back set that concludes Saturday against Utah.
Stephen Curry is listed as questionable due to a left ankle sprain, while guard DeAnthony Melton carries the same designation for left knee injury management. Centers Al Horford and Trayce Jackson-Davis are both probable despite lingering ailments. How aggressively head coach Steve Kerr deploys his rotation could hinge on Friday’s result against the defending champions.
Hawks
ATLANTA — Luke Kennard turned in one of his season’s top outings Wednesday, posting 15 points, six rebounds and five assists in 27 bench minutes during Atlanta’s win over Minnesota. Even so, the 27-year-old guard acknowledged his overall performance has not met expectations.
“I’ve had some good moments, but nowhere near what I can be,” Kennard told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They’ve been on me to be aggressive and shoot the ball when I can.”
Kennard signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Hawks last summer and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. He hopes Wednesday’s effort can serve as a springboard. “Today was a great team win,” he added. “Hopefully we can just build off of that.”
Source: Hoops Wire
