Nuggets shutting down vets with two regular season games remaining

Mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the Nuggets are shutting down Jameer Nelson, Danilo Gallinari, and Kenneth Faried for their last two regular season games, according to Altitude Sports’ Christopher Dempsey.

Will Barton will “likely” be shut down too, per Dempsey

Nelson, 35, has missed four of Denver’s last five games with a right calf strain and will finish the season with averages of 9.2 points and 5.1 assists per game. Nelson also shot the ball 44.4 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three this season, his best percentages since his career-year with Orlando in 2010-11.

Rookie Jamal Murray, who’s started five games at point guard for the Nuggets this season, is expected to draw the start again Tuesday against Dallas and Wednesday in Denver’s regular season finale against Oklahoma City. The Nuggets are 4-1 in games Murray has started at point guard this year.

Gallinari (rest), battled a left knee bone bruise in March, will also be held out. As will Kenneth Faried (low back) and Will Barton (rest). Faried has only played 10, 13 and 17 minutes over Denver’s last three games and Barton hasn’t suited up since March 28 in Portland.

With the Nuggets eliminated from the playoff race, rookies Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez are expected to see an uptick in minutes over these final two games.