Michael Malone: Injured Jamal Murray “hopefully” will be available for start of NBA playoffs

Jamal Murray has been listed as questionable on the Nuggets injury reports lately but that s evidently more of a long-term assessment than an immediate one Murray will hopefully be available for the start of the NBA playoffs if Denver makes it that far coach Michael Malone noted Sunday afternoon before the Nuggets hosted the Pacers Jamal s hurt It s not careful He s hurt Malone stated when questioned how careful the gang is being with Murray by withholding him from games So there s a big difference Careful is if a guy can play and you want to be smart We re not in a situation to do that There are six teams vying for four playoff spots So if Jamal Murray is not out there it s not careful It s because he literally just is not able to play at the moment Murray missed his fifth consecutive match on Sunday with an injury described by the club as right hamstring inflammation He has played of Denver s games this season averaging a career-high points on shooting from -point range The -year-old point guard played through injuries during the playoffs and Olympics last year Hopefully he s able to be back by the playoffs Malone revealed This has been a weird one It was day-to-day day-to-day and then next thing you know it s not day-to-day Related Articles Nuggets attempting to balance playoff seeding rest in final games We don t fear anybody Grading The Week Anthony Edwards Minnesota Timberwolves didn t just beat Nuggets They broke them Steph Curry goes for Nikola Jokic doesn t get much help as Nuggets fall to Warriors Nuggets Journal Dario Saric s member option looms amid disappointing season Will he decline to go overseas Nuggets Podcast Russell Westbrook s Minnesota mistake the Western pecking order and a confidence encounter In Murray s absence the Nuggets have used backup point guards Russell Westbrook and Jalen Pickett in the rotation while also starting Christian Braun at the one in selected games As they tipped off against Indiana they were both one tournament back of third place in the West and one match ahead of eighth place If Jamal is unable to go we need other guys to step up and play hard and play desperate and play urgent Malone explained Because I don t know if we re getting that from everybody right now Want more Nuggets news Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis