Jamal Murray Stuns as Key Risk for Nuggets After Jokic Injury
Nikola Jokic’s left-knee hyperextension has instantly shifted the balance of the Denver Nuggets’ season, placing the spotlight squarely on Jamal Murray. With the team’s MVP sidelined, Denver’s offense now runs through Murray more than ever, turning his scoring and decision-making into the difference between staying afloat and slipping in the standings.
Through 32 games, Murray has delivered All-Star-level production, averaging about 25 points, nearly seven assists and efficient three-point shooting, with flashes of dominance that include a 50-plus-point night and double-digit games in rebounds and assists. Those performances highlight why he’s indispensable — and why his workload must be handled with care. In David Adelman’s system, Murray becomes the primary creator when Nikola Jokic is unavailable, shouldering responsibilities normally shared by the league’s most effective duo.
The numbers show just how concentrated Denver’s playmaking is. Jokic and Murray account for the vast majority of the team’s assists, while the rest of the rotation — players like Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Tim Hardaway Jr., Cam Johnson and Peyton Watson — are finishers rather than initiators. When Jokic is out, defenses can load up on Murray, making Denver’s attack easier to predict and harder to sustain.
That reality creates a delicate dilemma. Murray already plays around 35 minutes a night, and pushing him into the high-30s may feel necessary in the short term. But doing so carries risk. Analyst Tim Legler has urged restraint, noting that Murray will naturally take on more responsibility without needing a sharp spike in minutes. The concern is magnified by Murray’s injury history, which includes major knee surgery and recurring lower-body issues.
For Denver, the solution isn’t simply riding Murray harder — it’s managing him smarter. Creative rotations, shared ball-handling and disciplined minutes will define how well the Nuggets survive Jokic’s absence. Murray is the heartbeat of the roster right now, and protecting his health may matter just as much as extracting his production.
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