Nuggets' Jamal Murray Exits vs. Rockets with Thumb Injury, Doesn't Return

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray suffered a right thumb sprain during his team's road game against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Murray left with 9:31 remaining in the second quarter. Denver initially listed Murray as questionable to return before he was eventually ruled out.

The 26-year-old posted two points and four assists in nine minutes before exiting. Bruce Brown replaced him in the lineup to begin the second half with the rest of the starting five.

Denver was up 36-31 when Murray exited the game. The Nuggets never recovered after he left, as Houston outscored them by 26 en route to a 124-103 win.

It was a brutal loss for a first-place Nuggets team that came into this game with a chance to clinch homecourt advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.

Denver can still do that with the team up two games on the second-place Memphis Grizzlies with three games to go and the tiebreaker in hand. However, there's now concern over Murray, especially with the playoffs beginning Saturday, April 15.

He's been an integral part of the first-place Nuggets, averaging 20.3 points on 45.3 percent shooting (39.9 percent from three), 6.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds.

If Murray has to miss time, that opens the door for Brown to get more minutes. Ish Smith and Reggie Jackson could also see more time off the bench as backup point guards.

For now, the Nuggets have a quick turnaround until their next game, as they visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.