Jamal Murray finalizes return to the slopes

Jamal Murray is nearing his return from a hamstring injury and will participate in the Denver Nuggets’ upcoming five-game road trip.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Thursday’s practice that he doesn’t know if he’ll get playing time during this mini-tour, “but from all the reports I’m getting, he’s on track to return.” I know he is working very hard and making positive progress. “Every day.”

Murray and two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to their first championship last season. Murray averaged 26.1 points in the playoffs, where the Nuggets finished 16-4. Murray, 26, got off to a great start this season, averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 assists, but was sidelined with an injury on Nov. 4 against Chicago. The team is taking a cautious approach to his recovery. They don’t want to take any risks with Murray, who missed the entire 2021-22 season due to his torn ACL.

Denver hasn’t really noticed the absence of its second standard, as the reigning NBA champions have a 3-1 record without Murray. Veteran Reggie Jackson joined the starting lineup and averaged 14.8 points in four games, helping the Nuggets stay atop the Western Conference standings (9-2).

“Reggie is a veteran. He’s played a lot of big games in his career. And the work he’s done to step in with that first unit and anchor that second unit. The whole thing was great,” Malone said.