Nuggets call up Monte Morris for matchup vs. Pacers

Two-way player Monte Morris has been transferred from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to the Denver Nuggets and is available for Sunday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers, the team announced.

Morris, 22, was selected 51st overall in 2017 draft and was signed to one of the teams’ two-way contracts after a productive Summer League.

Like Torrey Craig, who’s Denver’s other two-way player, Morris can spend up to 45 days with Denver this season under the terms of his two-way contract. Morris plays for the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers when he’s not with Denver. Rookie Tyler Lydon has also appeared in five games for Rio Grande Valley this season.

In 16 games with the Vipers, Morris is averaging an impressive 17.0 points on 49 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from three. In 31.7 minutes per game, Morris is also averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 4.8 assists and just 1.6 turnovers per game.

Morris’ call-up comes with starting point guard Jamal Murray ailing. Murray is questionable for today’s game in Indiana with right calf tightness. Murray has not missed a game in his NBA career despite playing through two hernias during his rookie season.

Update 1:15 p.m. MT: Murray is available to play, per Nuggets.

If Murray sits, Emmanuel Mudiay could be in line for his first start of the season. Mudiay played one of the better games of his career Friday in Orlando and scored 18 points on 8-16 shooting to go with five rebounds, five assists and just two turnovers.

Nikola Jokic (sprained left ankle) will miss his fifth consecutive game.

The Pacers also come in today’s matchup with a rash of injuries. Bojan Bogdanovic (sprained left ankle), Darren Collison (sore left knee), Lance Stephenson (sprained left ankle), and Thaddeus Young (sore right thigh) are all questionable. Glenn Robinson III (left ankle surgery rehabilitation) and Edmond Sumner (left knee surgery rehabilitation) will not play.

The game tips at 3 p.m. MT.

[column size=”1/2″]Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray
Gary Harris
Will Barton
Wilson Chandler
Mason Plumlee[/column]
[column size=”1/2″]Pacers Projected Starters

Darren Collison
Victor Oladipo
Bojan Bogdanovich
Thaddeus Young
Myles Turner[/column]