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The Nuggets injury report is still in flux but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Coach Michael Malone put a 7-10 day timetable on Will Barton‘s return from a sprained ankle he suffered Halloween night in a matchup against the Toronto Raptors, according to Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post.
#Nuggets coach Michael Malone hopeful to get Will Barton back in "week to 10 days." Barton's been dealing with a sprained ankle.
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) November 8, 2016
This should come as a very good sign being that a grade two ankle sprain takes anywhere from 10-30 days to heal and matches up with that timetable if that’s in fact what Barton suffered. Barton could return to action against either the Phoenix Suns on November 16 or when Denver faces the team he originally sprained his ankle against, the Toronto Raptors, on November 18.
It can’t be understated how important Barton has been to the Nuggets in the three games he’s played this season. He has become arguably the Nuggets best pick-and-roll ball handler and also provides a significant lift to Denver’s spacing, scoring 18 points per game and shooting a gaudy 57 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Gary Harris, who’s working his way back from a partially torn right groin he suffered in the preseason, is also in for a boost in minutes. In the past two games, Harris played 16 and 22 minutes respectively and thanks to his play and health, is poised for a larger amount of playing time.
“He’ll have more minutes tonight. He’s responded really well to the first couple of games and treatment and he feels good.” Malone said of Harris, again via The Post, “We’re not going to put him out there for 40 minutes obviously, but we’ll extend that 20-minute range.”
Wilson Chandler is still questionable going into the matchup with the Grizzlies. Chandler experienced hamstring tightness at the end of the Nuggets win over the Celtics.
Wilson Chandler (hamstring) will try and go through shootaround this morning. His status for tonight will be determined after its over.
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) November 8, 2016
Darrell Arthur is also questionable for tonight’s game. Arthur is healthy after a knee scope prior to training camp and has played seven and nine minutes in two games this year. The forward was a DNP-CD for the Nuggets in their win over the Celtics Sunday.
