Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray ($10,000, ankle/illness) has been listed as questionable for Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Mavericks.
Additionally, Bruce Brown ($4,200, knee) is questionable. Christian Braun (ankle) is out while both Aaron Gordon ($6,600, hamstring) and Spencer Jones ($4,800, ankle/illness) are probable for the Nuggets.
Wednesday is Denver’s second game in two nights after the club defeated the Pelicans 122-116 on Tuesday. Murray was also questionable with the ankle injury for that game, but played through that designation and was stellar with 35 points, nine assists and two rebounds in 37.2 minutes (60 FPTS). The guard obviously looked healthy during this outing, but Murray has missed three of his last five games, so him sitting tonight wouldn’t be a surprise in any way.
Murray has been outstanding ever since Nikola Jokic (knee) got injured. In the five starts Murray has made since, he is averaging 27.8 points, 11.0 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game with a 30% usage rate.
If Murray is out, Hunter Tyson ($4,200) would be the most likely player to start. Gordon, Peyton Watson ($7,700) and Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,600) would all see expanded roles. With Murray and Jokic both off the floor this season, Gordon leads the Nuggets with a 28% usage rate, which is a 4.0 percentage point jump from his season average.
Denver is 2-1 with both Jokic and Murray inactive this season, but the Nuggets are a 2.5-point underdog vs. the Mavericks on DraftKings Sportsbook.