Jamal Murray gives Nuggets fans injury scare: ‘I’m good’

Jamal Murray was sidelined for greater than 500 days after a torn ACL in April 2021 value him all of final season within the NBA. His return lasted simply two video games earlier than he was sidelined once more.

The Nuggets’ 25-year-old level guard left Friday night time’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Bulls grabbing the again of his left leg — the identical one he underwent surgical procedure on — and wincing as he left the ground.

The excellent news for Nuggets followers is that this harm doesn’t look like almost as critical.

The Nuggets introduced that Murray left the sport due to thigh soreness. He scored two factors and dished out 5 assists earlier than heading to the locker room late within the second quarter and did to not return.

Jamal Murray with Nuggets coach Michael Malone Friday night time in opposition to the Bulls.

Getty Pictures

“It was irritating, nevertheless it’s OK,” Murray instructed the Denver Publish. “It’s only a cramp. It’s not prefer it was a pull. Nothing critical. My physique hasn’t had this a lot since coaching camp, three-hour practices and all that. I suppose I’m simply adjusting to the workload, that’s all.

“I’m good.”

That may be considerably good for Denver, too.

The Nuggets’ Jamal Murray drives to the basket in opposition to the Bulls throughout a preseason recreation Friday on the United Heart in Chicago.

NBAE through Getty Pictures

Denver is without doubt one of the finest groups within the Western Convention and seeking to bounce again from a first-round exit in opposition to the Warriors in final yr’s playoffs. The Nuggets are already with out back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who's nursing a proper wrist harm.

When wholesome, Murray has confirmed to be probably the greatest younger gamers within the league, main Denver to the Western Convention closing in 2019-20 with a 40-point outburst in Recreation 7 in opposition to the Clippers within the convention semifinals to erase a 3-1 sequence deficit. Earlier than he went down with the ACL harm in 2020-21, Murray was averaging a career-high 21.2 factors, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds.

“Jamal, I get somewhat bit extra worrisome, with the knee,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone instructed reporters earlier than the sport. “He’s effective, however I need to be actually cautious about how we do that.”

The Nuggets will open the season Oct. 19 in Utah in opposition to the Jazz.