The Denver Nuggets went from one of the harmful groups within the NBA to one of the weak.

Jamal Murray was identified with a torn ACL in his left knee, which is predicted to maintain him sidelined for the rest of the 2020-21 season.

With the Nuggets (34-20) ranked fourth within the Western Convention, they’re now with out their level guard who emerged as a famous person final season. It additionally strips away a part of the Nuggets’ depth, which additionally consists of an MVP candidate (Nikola Jokic), an rising younger participant (Michael Porter Jr.) and a newly acquired wing participant that may defend at a number of positions (Aaron Gordon).

Within the last minute of the Nuggets’ loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Murray drove towards the basket earlier than his knee buckled on a non-contact play. Murray instantly fell to the bottom. Moments later, the Nuggets’ coaching camp assisted him to the locker room.

Afterwards, Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated a few of his assistant coaches watched the replay and feared that Murray hyperextended his knee. However the Nuggets had Murray take an MRI earlier than figuring out the severity of his harm.

“Clearly very down locker room,” Malone stated after the sport. “Sure we misplaced the sport. However I feel all people’s ideas are with Jamal and hoping hoping he’ll be okay.”

Murray had missed the earlier 4 video games due to proper knee soreness. He performed towards Golden State on a relative minutes restriction (33), however Malone confused that Murray was not rushed again to play.

“Anytime a man misses 4 video games, there’s at all times a priority going on the market. However I feel we took our time with that knee soreness that he was experiencing,” Malone stated. “He wished to return again tonight, and felt actually good about coming again tonight. It is a type of issues the place accidents is one thing you may’t actually management.”

Observe USA TODAY NBA author Mark Medina on Twitter, Fb and Instagram.

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Nuggets’ Jamal Murray out indefinitely with torn ACL in left knee