The Denver Nuggets have been solid all season despite being without two of their best players. Their starting point guard in Jamal Murray has missed the entire season with an ACL tear from last April. Starting forward Michael Porter Jr. played in just nine games this season before having lumbar spine surgery in November and hasn’t been able to work his way onto the floor since.
While there’s been optimism all season that Denver could get one or both of these guys back for the playoffs, those hopes are starting to fade.
As first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Murray and Porter Jr. will both miss the final game of the regular season and are “unlikely” to return during the postseason.
Despite being without these two key pieces for nearly the entire season, the Nuggets have played very well. Entering the final day of the regular season, they’re tied for the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 48-33.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has once again been spectacular this season, carrying Denver throughout the season as they played shorthanded.
Anytime Jokic is on the floor, Denver has a chance to win. As such, the Nuggets are a team nobody should want to play in the first round of the playoffs.
