Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was helped off the floor after suffering an apparent knee injury during the final minute of Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors.
With 50 seconds remaining and the Nuggets trailing by seven, Murray drove to the basket for a routine layup. When he planted his left leg, it buckled beneath him and he fell to the court.
Murray could be seen in visible pain, clutching his knee for several moments before a wheelchair was brought out to assist him off the court. Murray refused and instead was helped to the locker room by training staff.
Jamal Murray was helped off the court after an apparent injury to his left knee.
Wishing him a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/HtMfujnACP— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2021
The potential extent of Murray’s injury is not known at this time. Michael Malone, Denver’s head coach, said after the game the team is waiting on imaging testing of Murray’s left knee.
Murray had missed the Nuggets’ last four games while dealing with soreness in his right knee.
“He just came back, he was gone for four days,” Malone told reporters after the game. “His [right] knee had been bothering him…just an awful feeling. Keep Jamal in your thoughts and prayers and hopefully we will get some good news.”
Several prominent NBA players were quick to wish Murray well on social media in the aftermath of his injury.
Praying for @BeMore27
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 13, 2021
Prayers up @BeMore27
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 13, 2021
Praying you good! @BeMore27
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 13, 2021
Damn man!!! stay strong @BeMore27
— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) April 13, 2021
The 24-year-old Murray, who had scored 17 points on Monday before the injury, cemented his place as a premier young talent in the NBA during Denver’s run in the post-season bubble last year and is a pivotal part of the Nuggets’ NBA Finals hopes for 2021.
A native of Kitchener, Ont., Murray was also poised to potentially be a meaningful contributor in Team Canada’s Olympics pursuits.
“Any time you play for your country, it’s a different type of honour than just playing on a team or in a league,” Murray said in December, when asked what wearing red and white at the Olympics would mean to him. “I look forward to it, I just hope it happens. Like I said, just trying to get through this season first the best way we can, try to get through it healthy and then look ahead.”
In 47 games this year, he’s averaged a career-high 21.3 points on 48 per cent shooting, as well as four assists per night.
