Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, who has been out since March 26 with a right hamstring injury, is available to play in Friday’s game vs. Memphis, the team announced (via Twitter).
Murray is expected to be on a minutes restriction in his first game back, tweets Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette.
Having Murray back in the lineup should be a big boost for a Nuggets team that lost four of the six games he has missed in the past two weeks. A win over the Grizzlies on Friday, combined with a loss by either the Clippers, Warriors, or Timberwolves, would clinch a playoff spot for Denver, as we detailed earlier today.
Before he was let go from his position as the Nuggets’ head coach, Michael Malone expressed uncertainty about Murray’s return timeline, telling reporters that “hopefully” Denver would have its second-leading scorer back by the playoffs. It’s unclear if Murray will suit up on Sunday – that may depend on tonight’s outcome – but it appears he should be available for the start of the postseason, barring some sort of setback.
Murray got off to a slow start this season, averaging just 17.8 points per game with a .420/.333/.803 shooting line in his first 17 games, but he has turned things around since then. In his past 48 contests, he has averaged 23.0 PPG on .493/.417/.919 shooting.
He’ll be hurt again by next week.
Something is really off with this guy. It’s unsettling..