Headline: Coach Malone Remains Optimistic About Jamal Murrays Playoff Return as Nuggets Struggle Without Him

DENVER (AP) — On Sunday, Jamal Murray sat out his fifth straight game for the Denver Nuggets due to a strained right hamstring. Head coach Michael Malone expressed hope that the talented point guard would return in time for the NBA playoffs. Meanwhile, the Nuggets fell to the Pacers, 125-120, in Denver.

Malone emphasized that keeping Murray sidelined with four regular-season games remaining wasn’t simply a precautionary measure: “Jamal is injured. It’s not just about being cautious; he is hurt.”

“This has been a strange situation,” Malone remarked. “It was supposed to be day-to-day, and then suddenly, it’s not. Clearly, this is a significant loss for us. However, we have more than enough talent. Our team has proven that repeatedly. If Jamal can’t play, we need others to rise to the occasion and play with intensity.”

When asked before the game against Indiana if he anticipates Murray’s return for the playoffs, Malone responded, “I hope he can be back by then.”

Going into Sunday’s game, the Nuggets were on a three-game losing streak and ranked fourth in the tightly contested Western Conference, only one game ahead of the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

Last season, Murray struggled with a sprained ankle late in the year and didn’t perform well during the second-round playoff series against Minnesota and for Canada in the Paris Olympics.

The Pacers were missing star forward Pascal Siakam (right elbow) during their matchup in Denver.

Siakam’s absence complicated the Pacers’ efforts against Nikola Jokic, who is nearing a unique milestone of being the first player in NBA history to finish in the top three for scoring, rebounding, and assists in a single season.

“It’s an enormous challenge,” Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle noted. “When you think about it, he essentially plays every position on the court. He frequently handles the ball and plays center. He effectively fulfills the roles normally associated with every position. He scores, grabs rebounds, drives like a wing player, and performs like a forward. It’s yet another historic season for him, and we’ve struggled to contain him.”

Malone also supported Russell Westbrook, who faced criticism for two critical errors in the final moments of a double-overtime loss to the Wolves last week, where the score ended at 140-139.

“Without Russell, we wouldn’t be in our current position, fourth place with four games remaining,” Malone said. “It’s easy to focus on recent events: ‘He missed a layup, he fouled someone against Minnesota,’ and then people want to distance themselves from him. That’s not my perspective.

“I have great respect for Russell Westbrook and I value all he has contributed to our team this season, both on and off the court. With Jamal unavailable, we rely on Russell to step up, bring energy, and provide a spark—after all, our turnover issues aren’t just his fault; it’s a collective problem at the moment.

“However, Russ has the experience. He understands what playing in crucial games entails, while many of our current players are still learning. Having a veteran who has faced high-stakes situations can help reassure the younger guys.”