Jonas Valanciunas Injury Update, Latest on Return Timeline to Nuggets with Jokic Out
The Denver Nuggets have been dealt another injury blow.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, center Jonas Valančiūnas suffered a right calf strain in Wednesday's win over the Toronto Raptors and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Valančiūnas, who is in his first season with Denver, is putting up 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, playing 13 minutes per contest off the bench.
Valančiūnas adds to a lengthy list of injured Nuggets.
Nikola Jokić suffered a hyperextended left knee on Monday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. His injury is arguably the most impactful considering his MVP-caliber play to start the season. Jokić currently leads the team in points (29.6), rebounds (12.2), assists (11) and steals (1.4), so his absence will be felt.
Cameron Johnson is dealing with a right knee contusion he suffered last week and will be re-evaluated in about a month.
Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) are also both sidelined at the moment, but could return in the coming games. Head coach David Adelman said earlier this week that there's a chance the two return during their current road trip, which ends next Wednesday.
With all of those injuries, Jamal Murray is the only typical starter who is healthy at the moment, though he's also nursing an ankle injury. He's putting together a strong season so far, averaging 25.1 points and 6.9 assists per game.
The Nuggets are currently sitting in third place in the West at 23-10, but given their injury luck over the past week or so, it's fair to assume they could be in for a losing skid in the coming weeks.
