Emmanuel Mudiay returns to Nuggets' lineup versus Grizzlies with minute restriction

DENVER — After missing the past five games with low back pain, Emmanuel Mudiay returns to the Nuggets’ rotation tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jameer Nelson will draw his fifth consecutive start, while Mudiay will play under a 20-minute restriction off the bench.

“I’m going to go with Jameer as the starter,” Michael Malone said. “We’ll kind of ease Emmanuel back in. Once again, he hasn’t gone through a live practice so this will be really the first live minutes he’s had since he got hurt in the second half of the Clipper game. So Jameer will start and we’ll bring Emmanuel off the bench.”

The Nugget haven’t had much practice time since Mudiay injured his back in the Nuggets’ 123-98 win over the Clippers on Jan. 21, but the 21-year-old has worked out with Nuggets’ player development coaches and played in live 3-on-3 situations over the past few days.

Footnotes

Nikola Jokic (left hip flexor strain) will not play against Memphis and is still day-to-day.

Will Barton, who will also not play against Memphis, got an MRI today on his injured left ankle. “I don’t think it’s serious,” Malone said. “But I was shocked he didn’t play yesterday.” Barton missed 12 games with a left ankle injury earlier this season.