The Nuggets are missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for Wednesday’s matchup with the Lakers, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Both players also sat out Monday’s win at Golden State.
Jokic has a left ankle impingement as well as a contusion on his right elbow. Murray is dealing with a sprained right ankle and had difficulty moving during a session with assistant coach John Beckett more than two hours before the game, according to MacMahon.
During a pregame meeting with the media before the final determinations were made, coach Michael Malone said, “you listen to your body,” adding that he trusts the players and training staff to make the right decisions. He reacted angrily to a suggestion that the Nuggets are intentionally resting their best players.
“I think that’s just a bunch of bulls–t,” Malone said. “I mean, in the last 10 years, Nikola Jokic has played the second most games in the NBA. Ten years. And the guys in that top 10, none of them are superstars. So if Nikola is not playing, it’s not because he’s sitting. It’s not because he needs rest. It’s because he’s hurt and he’s trying to play through things that most wouldn’t. We’re at a point right now where we have to do what’s best for not just Nikola, but for all our guys, as we move forward and try to close out this season.”
There’s more injury news to pass along:
- Lakers forward Rui Hachimura is sitting out his eighth straight game tonight due to tendinopathy in his left knee, but coach J.J. Redick said he’s making progress and is considered day-to-day, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link). Hachimura has been taking part in three-on-three scrimmages and participated in warm-ups before tonight’s contest.
- Bulls guard Josh Giddey, who had been sidelined since March 10 with a sprained right ankle, is making his return in Wednesday’s game at Phoenix. Coach Billy Donovan plans to give Giddey his normal workload of 30-32 minutes and said he may play again Thursday at Sacramento, tweets K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.
- Lonzo Ball didn’t accompany the Bulls on their six-game road trip, but he has started shooting with his injured wrist, Johnson adds (Twitter link). Donovan said Ball, who sprained the wrist in late February, still has a long road toward recovery.
- Knicks center Mitchell Robinson remains on a minutes restriction after returning last month from ankle surgery, but coach Tom Thibodeau views it as more of a guideline than a definite policy, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). Thibodeau said the limit is around 24 minutes, which is what Robinson played Monday night, but he’s willing to extend it depending on how his center feels.
Nuggets have needed Jokic more than any other team has needed their star during that time…
One of the many reasons he deserves more MVPs than he has…
When isn’t Murray hurt? They better trade him ASAP in the summer.
I like the Nuggets sitting Jokic and Murray again… playing the long game.
Just saw GSW won’t rest Steph tomorrow against Toronto at home, which IMO is a mistake. Toronto is tanking and depleted. Next, GSW goes on a 6 game road trip, against some tough West Coast teams, and Steph is not properly rested.
Well played Nuggets, don’t show your hand to a fellow playoff contender before the postseason.
Malone is a real basketball man, born and bred. There is no way he’s “resting” healthy players to play to the delusions of 2k nation. It’s understandable that he’s angry at the suggestion he might, but he should just laugh and shrug it off. 2k’ers have to do their 2k stuff, it’s all they have.
Its March, almost no player is fully healthy right now.
Saying Thibs is “willing to extend” a minutes limit is like… I’m struggling here because that IS the punch line
Bargzzz- Thibbs never saw a minutes restriction he ever gave a crap about.
NBA players missing their team’s game on Wednesday:
AD / Haliburton
Wemby /Brunson
SGA / Embiid
Markkanen
Ja
Sabonis / Garland
Lebron / Jokic / Murray
Hard to say the product is not devalued.
Hippoes – thanks for pointing that out, and you’re right, it’s gone too far. One game sitting out for rest should be the limit.
All of those teams have rosters far superior to one’s from even 10 years ago, even without their 1%er. Devalued from the rest of the season? Not every game is a home run or a slam dunk, as it were.
A majority of those guys are actually hurt or never typically rest (like Jokic), so I have no idea what point you’re trying to make.
Obviously resting and tanking are a significant issue, but these aren’t the guys furthering that argument.
Mitch Robinson has played 9 games. Since being out 9 months. He is avg 16.2 mins, 5.7 pts, 5.6 reb,
2 blk, 1 stl, FG .688% ……
And he’s not even in game shape. Those of you who don’t know ball. Can’t appreciate a guy like Mitch
RIGHT @aristotle ..….. or even have time to look up his stats. God forbid watch a Knicks game. Mitch is the reason IHart got paid. And he is approaching gm shape status. Means the real Mitch for playoffs. Which means a better Knicks team ……
Not a fan of Mitch n Towns. Rather Towns and Achiuwa more. But it is another option for Thibs …
In case you don’t know numbers. Mitch is under 20 mins right now.