It is free fall for the Denver Nuggets! 3 losses in a row, with a 4-6 record in the last 10 games, the Nuggets are struggling to find their rhythm back. Their worry? Injury. Even worse, the standings. A consistent 3rd in the seed, the Malone-led side has slipped to 4th. But what poses them a bigger threat is those sitting in 5, 6, 7, 8, all in red hot form, breathing heavy on the Nuggets’ neck! From a confirmed berth in the playoffs to sliding in via play-ins, there can’t be anything worse to demoralize the Nikola Jokic side. Salt to the wound, Jamal Murray’s absence as the playoffs inch closer. The star guard missed his fourth straight game on Friday night, and after a 118-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone wasn’t exactly painting an optimistic picture.

Though the instability of the Nuggets has been there for some time now, the situation has worsened since the number 27 isn’t doing good. Murray has been dealing with right hamstring inflammation and hasn’t suited up since March 29. He’s missed games against the Jazz, Timberwolves, Lakers, and now the Warriors — and the Nuggets are 1-3 in that stretch. The most frustrating part? There’s still no clear timetable.

While Murray was listed as questionable ahead of Friday’s game in San Francisco, he was ultimately ruled out, marking his fourth consecutive DNP. The team has been cautious — understandably so — with Malone noting that they’re trying to avoid making things worse with the postseason looming.

“Yeah, and I don’t know when Jamal is going to be back,” Malone admitted post-game. “So we can’t rely upon that as an excuse. If you’re healthy, go out there and play and play better… Obviously, not having Jamal is a big loss for us with how well he’s played. But that’s how it goes sometimes.” There is uncertainty, there is a fear, but the weight is not too heavy to lose games in a streak. But is there a ray of hope?

The good news? There’s a chance he returns Sunday when the Nuggets host the Pacers. That’s the next opportunity, and you can bet Denver is hoping he’s ready to roll.

Nuggets let One Slip in San Francisco

Now, let’s talk about Friday night. It didn’t look like the Nuggets were falling apart from the very first throw. For a moment, it looked like the Nuggets were about to steal one. They came out hot, dropping 44 points in the first quarter and leading by 10. Nikola Jokic was cooking, as usual — he dropped 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists in another MVP-caliber performance. But after that red-hot start? The wheels fell off.

Golden State responded with a 32-16 second quarter, led by Stephen Curry’s 36-point masterclass, and they never looked back. The Warriors dominated the second half, exposed Denver’s defensive breakdowns, and handed the Nuggets their third straight loss.

And while Malone could’ve chalked it up to injuries, he didn’t take that route. “We’ve lost three games in a row. And we just got to fight through it. Play with more urgency and just play a little bit harder and a lot more discipline.”

That was the tone: no excuses, just accountability. But still, not having Jamal hurt. He’s a dynamic shot-creator, reliable closer, and his chemistry with Jokić unlocks Denver’s offense in a way no one else can replicate. Rookie Jalen Pickett has stepped up, even grabbing a triple-double vs. San Antonio earlier in the week, but there’s no replacing Murray long-term.

At 47-31, Denver is still very much in the playoff mix, but with only a few games left, every win matters. Their next chance comes Sunday at home vs. Indiana, and all eyes will be on the injury report. Will Jamal Murray be back? Malone doesn’t know. But one thing’s certain: the Nuggets need their guy, and they need him soon.