Juancho Hernangomez nearing return to Nuggets lineup after bout with mono

After missing the Denver Nuggets last ten games with mono, forward Juancho Hernangomez could return to the team’s lineup Saturday night versus the Orlando Magic. Hernangomez was upgraded to questionable on the Nuggets official injury report.

Hernangomez was diagnosed with mononucleosis on Oct. 24 and did not travel with the team on their four-game East Coast road trip the next day. The 22-year-old played in Denver’s first two games this season but didn’t fare well. He went scoreless against both Utah and Sacramento, took only one field goal attempt across both games and didn’t record a rebound, assist, steal or block in 13 total minutes.

“Juancho’s got to get going,” Nuggets coach Malone said after Denver’s opening night loss in Utah. “I know he had a very long, arduous summer with the National Team of Spain but right now he doesn’t have the same energy and zap that he had last year.”

The following week, Denver shut Hernangomez down after tests came back showing that he contracted the illness.

Malone said on Nov. 3 that Hernangomez was still a few weeks away from returning to action but was doing “limited” work at practice.

Gary Harris (right shoulder soreness) is also listed as questionable for Saturday versus Orlando. If Harris is unable to go, Will Barton would likely start in his place.