The 2025-26 season remains as unfavorable as ever on the injury front for the Denver Nuggets. Most of their key men have missed significant time due to injuries, and on Wednesday night, it was Jamal Murray's turn to suffer an illness as he was forced out of the contest against the Boston Celtics early.
The good news is that the Nuggets still took care of business against the Celtics at home, earning a 103-84 win over one of the hottest teams in the association, and the team has proven time and again that they can handle the absence of their key players.
But it seems like Murray should never have suited up for the Nuggets on opening night. After the game, head coach David Edelman revealed that Murray had been heavily medicated beforehand to try to get him healthy enough to play, but he couldn't move forward easily For the entire game.
"He looked terrible. They gave him all the medications. It didn't help. All kinds of physical things were happening," Edelman said, via Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette.
Jamal Murray could be in line for a few days' rest with the Nuggets
Murray deserves credit for trying to carry on and play despite the illness. But the Nuggets need to prioritize the long game.
The battle for position in the West is as heated as ever, but there's no reason to risk life and limb in a regular season game.
Murray scored only two points in eight minutes of play, before exiting the game due to illness. The Nuggets have a day off before facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road, though it remains to be seen whether Murray will be healthy enough by then.
