Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to miss NBA playoffs entirely
The Nuggets have most definitely been dealt a blow with the loss of two key players, but they will know that come next season things will be very different.
On the back of constant heroics of Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets are heading to the playoffs, but unfortunately it will be without two of their best players
Nuggets’ Murray and Porter Jr. ruled out of playoffs
The Denver Nuggets will close out their regular season on Sunday against the unfortunate Los Angeles Lakers and while they have already booked their spot in the post season, they will do so with their heads perhaps hung low. According to reports on Sunday, it now appears that the Nuggets will be entering the playoffs without to of their key players, namely Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. both of whom are set to not only miss their final game against LA, but the entire NBA playoffs themselves.
Murray of course was already a doubt, having missed the entire season as he fought to recover from a torn ACL, which he suffered towards the end of last year’s regular season. Initially it was believed there would be more than enough time for him to make a successful return, but last season’s condensed schedule - due to the pandemic - means that he is still well within the typical one-year return time frame from a torn ACL. Then of course there is Porter Jr., who did manage to play this season, but in the nine appearances that he made it was clear to see that he was struggling. In the end he required back surgery to repair the issue that hindering his progress. As was the case with Murray, there was initial hope that he could return in time, however, it has now been confirmed that he won’t be returning for the Nuggets again this season.He rehabbed from there and initially presented some optimism for a possible return. However, Porter is now deemed unlikely to return to the Nuggets this season.
A big loss for the Denver Nuggets
At 25 Murray is two years older than the 23 year old Porter Jr., but both are playing on maximum contracts for the Nuggets and quite frankly have been lethal when healthy. Indeed, with that in mind the Nuggets are absolutely correct to be cautious with them as they surely have many more years at this level alongside the likes of league MVP Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Just last season we saw just how good the quartet was to the extent that it could even be argued that Murray’s untimely injury may have prevented them from winning a championship.
Whatever the case, the future should be both bright and clear for the Nuggets. If they can rest and recuperate both players during this time, Denver should be in prime position to take the league by storm not just next season, but beyond as well. In fact, one could even say that maybe the better choice would be to use this post season as an exploratory campaign, while building for what is to come.