Another injury hits Nuggets' starting lineup ahead of matchup with Wizards

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Starting point guard Emmanuel Mudiay has been ruled out of Thursday night’s matchup with the Washington Wizards with right ankle sprain.

This isn’t the first instance of Mudiay’s right ankle giving him trouble. He missed 14 games after injuring it last season.

Mudiay hits the Nuggets’ injury report just as it seemed Denver was getting a clean bill of health for the first time all season. Nikola Jokic recently returned from a sprained wrist as Mudiay now joins Gary Harris, who is still sidelined with a right foot injury, in street clothes on Denver’s bench.

Through 22 games this season, Mudiay has struggled. The 19-year-old is averaging 13.1 points on just 34.8 percent shooting from the field, 4.3 rebound, 3.8 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game.

After Wednesday night’s loss in Brooklyn, Michael Malone was contemplating a change to his starting lineup, as Denver comes into Thursday night’s matchup in Washington as the second-worst team in the league in first quarters this season. Without Mudiay, Malone’s decision becomes a lot easier as veteran Jameer Nelson is expected to step into Denver’s starting lineup.

Nelson will be flanked by Will Barton, Danilo Gallinari, Darrell Arthur and Jusuf Nurkic in Denver’s starting lineup. Arthur gets his first start of the season in place of Kenneth Faried.