The Nuggets have been on a tear recently. They have won their last four games and currently sit comfortably at the fourth spot in the West standings. Their latest win came last night as they blew out the Pelicans. And the Denver franchise hoped to carry that momentum to tonight’s Magic clash. However, that could prove to be a tough challenge as they will be playing without their superstar, Jamal Murray. Yes, Murray will not suit up. The reason? A left knee inflammation. Well, his knee has been a constant issue for him for many seasons now. And Jamal is likely getting a maintenance day on the back-to-back after logging in 36 minutes last night.

Obviously, his absence is a massive blow to the team as Murray has clearly been their second-best player behind Nikola Jokic, averaging 20.2 points and over six assists. While he started the season slowly, the point guard has picked up pace in recent months and now looks more like the player who helped the Nuggets win a championship two years ago.

Although he scored only ten points yesterday, Jamal has averaged 22.8 points in his last five appearances. Hopefully, tonight’s setback will not slow down his momentum. Well, Murray’s problems began four years ago when he tore the ACL in his left knee during a game. And he was forced to miss an entire season recovering from it.

Against all odds, Murray returned a year later and led his team to the NBA Championship right away. That’s the kind of impact he brings to the table, and the Nuggets will miss it tonight. Moreover, he is not the only superstar they will be missing!

Denver Nuggets extremely shorthanded as Former MVP joins Jamal Murray in Injury Report

If Jamal’s absence wasn’t enough damage, Russell Westbrook will also miss his fourth straight game. He has been out with a left hamstring strain. Of course, this leaves the Denver franchise extremely shorthanded at the guard position as Russ has become a key part of their rotation. Defying his age, he is averaging 13 points and over six assists. Moreover, his natural chemistry with Jokic has been a breath of fresh air for the team.

With Murray and Westbrook out, the guard duty will likely fall on Jalen Pickett and Julian Strawther. That’s an enormous responsibility for both youngsters, as Pickett has spent most of his time coming off the bench for limited minutes. Meanwhile, Strawther’s usage rate has been much higher than Jalen and he has been solid, averaging 9.4 points and over one assist. Well, tonight is their opportunity to shine and prove that they are ready for the big stage. Do you think the youngsters can step up to the challenge while Murray and Russ recover from injury?