The Denver Nuggets walked into Monday night already bruised, already stretched thin, already carrying a level of stress they haven’t felt since the darkest days of the 2020–21 season. But in a 131–121 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, that stress finally snapped at the wrong place: Jamal Murray sprained his right ankle, and suddenly, Denver’s stability feels more fragile than ever.
The play itself wasn’t spectacular, dramatic, or violent. Jamal Murray came down awkwardly early in the third quarter, tried to shake it off, returned briefly, then disappeared for the fourth quarter. When a player who famously fights through pain pulls himself out, the situation becomes something deeper than routine soreness.
Coach David Adelman kept his words cautious:
“If Jamal sits himself because of the pain, it probably hurts.”
That alone says everything.
Denver will evaluate him Tuesday, but the anxiety is already real inside that locker room.
Jamal Murray is The Player They CAN’T Live Without
This is not the same Jamal Murray who tore his ACL in 2021.
This is the most complete version of him the Nuggets have ever had.
Before the injury, Jamal Murray was putting up the best numbers of his career:
- 23.3 PPG (career high)
- 6.7 APG (career high)
- 4.5 RPG (career high)
- 1.1 SPG
- Shooting 45.6% FG, 38.3% 3PT, 87.1% FT
He has never been this polished, this confident, or this essential.
And historically? Jamal Murray is already one of the most accomplished players in Denver’s franchise record book:
- 5th in scoring (10,065)
- 6th in assists (2,637)
- 1st in 3PM (1,202)
- 19th in rebounds (2,103)
- 11th in steals (562)
- 6th in total minutes (17,460)
- T-7th in games played (555)
Yet somehow, unbelievably, he has never made an All-Star, All-NBA, or All-Defense team. His entire legacy has been built on postseason excellence and championship moments, which makes his regular-season dominance this year feel even more important. Murray was finally building the resume everyone said he lacked.
Which is why this injury, even if minor, cuts deeper than normal.
How Bad Could An Ankle Sprain REALLY Be?
The Nuggets have not released a timeline yet, but here’s what a sprained ankle typically means for NBA guards, depending on severity:
1️⃣ Mild Sprain: 3 to 7 Days (Best Case)
This would be the “walk it off” version. Swelling, slight soreness, but playable within a week. If Murray only misses 1–2 games, Denver breathes a sigh of relief.
Likelihood: Possible, but not certain, he did exit the game completely, which usually suggests more than mild discomfort.
Impact:
Denver avoids major collapse. Jokic can survive short-term without Jamal Murray’s shot creation.
2️⃣ Moderate Sprain: 2 to 3 Weeks (Likely Case)
This is the most common outcome for the symptoms Jamal Murray showed. A moderate sprain means pain when pushing laterally, difficulty planting the foot, and a risk of re-injury if rushed back.
Impact:
This is where things get scary.
Denver already lost:
- Aaron Gordon (hamstring, out until late Dec/early Jan)
- Christian Braun (ankle sprain, at least six weeks)
A 2–3 week absence for Jamal Murray would mean Denver loses its best guard, best forward defender, and best wing defender all at once.
3️⃣ Severe Sprain: 4 to 6 Weeks or Longer (Worst Case)
This is the version Denver simply cannot afford.
A severe sprain means ligament damage, significant swelling, and a long climb back to game shape.
Impact:
Denver’s defense collapses. Their offense becomes Jokic-dependent to an unhealthy degree. Losing Jamal Murray for a month would likely push Denver out of the top-six and into Play-In territory by January.
How Much Trouble Are The Denver Nuggets TRUELY In?
Denver is not built like most contenders.
They do not have extra scorers waiting behind Jokic and Murray. They do not have elite defensive wings to absorb injuries. They do not have depth that can carry them for weeks.
Losing Murray would mean:
❌ No Murray
Denver loses its primary off-the-dribble creator and the league’s deadliest two-man game with Nikola Jokic.
❌ No Aaron Gordon
Denver loses its strongest defender and its most versatile cutter.
❌ No Christian Braun
Denver loses the only young wing capable of guarding multiple positions.
With all three injured, Denver becomes:
- A bottom-10 defense
- A predictable offense
- A thin rotation relying on Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson, and rookies
- A team that could fall several games below .500
- This is the kind of injury cluster that tests championship DNA. And right now, the Nuggets look vulnerable in a way they haven’t been since 2021.
The Hope, The Fear and The Reality
The franchise hopes this is nothing more than a minor sprain.
The fear is that Jamal Murray’s history of lower-body injuries will complicate the recovery.
The reality is simple:
Without Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets cannot win a championship.
This is not an overreaction, it is the truth that their entire system is built on.
Denver will wait for Tuesday’s evaluation.
But tonight, they wait with tension, with doubt… and with a level of concern the NBA should take seriously.
