Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray participated in parts of the team’s practice Tuesday, coach Michael Malone said, but not in any live portions.
Murray will fly with the Nuggets to Los Angeles, where they will evaluate how his ankle is feeling Wednesday morning and determine whether he’s able to play against the Clippers (8 p.m. MT, ESPN).
“If he’s able to give us some minutes tomorrow night, that’d be great,” Malone said.
Murray’s official injury report designation recently has been a right ankle sprain. He’s missed Denver’s last two games after turning the ankle two minutes and 19 seconds into his first game back from a right hamstring strain last Wednesday. He had been out 11 games due to the hamstring, but Malone confirmed that’s no longer an issue; any absence for Murray is entirely related to his ankle now.
“Hamstring’s fine. I’ve worked enough to get it back to strength,” Murray said after his return last week, frustrated by the immediate setback to his health. “Now it’s just another thing.”
If the 26-year-old point guard misses five more games this regular season, he will be ineligible for end-of-year accolades such as All-NBA teams, thereby also rendering him unable to sign a supermax contract during the 2024 offseason. He was eligible for a three-year, $145 million extension last offseason that would have started in 2025-26, but no such extension was signed.
Murray needs to achieve All-NBA honors for the first time in his career to become supermax-eligible. Under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, All-NBA teams are no longer divided by position starting this season, seemingly increasing Murray’s chances in a crowded competition of elite guards — if he can stay healthy.
So far without Murray, the Nuggets (14-7) have gone 7-6 using Reggie Jackson as their starting point guard. During those 13 starts, Jackson has averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 turnovers on 53.8% shooting (44.4% from 3-point range). Murray has also averaged 16.3 points in his eight games this season, but on 41.4% shooting.
If the starter misses Wednesday’s game at the Clippers, the silver lining is that Jackson’s former teams seem to be his specialty: Last week he registered his fourth career 35-point game along with 13 assists to lead the Nuggets to a gutsy win in Los Angeles without Murray, Nikola Jokic or Aaron Gordon in the lineup. Jackson has upped his game for 24.7 points on 68.9% shooting and 7.7 assists in three games against his former teams (the Clippers and Pistons) this season.
“You have to give Reggie Jackson (credit). I can’t say enough great things,” Malone said. “Just look at Reggie’s numbers on the season and the last five. What he’s doing is just incredible. His efficiency with Nikola and (DeAndre Jordan) in pick-and-rolls. His efficiency in terms of shooting the basketball. Could not be more proud of Reggie and the way he’s played, whether it’s behind Jamal or starting in place of Jamal. So if Jamal’s ready, great. If not, we’ll continue to find ways to go out there and compete.”
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