DENVER — Nuggets forward Paul Millsap went through significant on-court work following Wednesday’s practice as he recovers from reconstructive left wrist surgery that’s sidelined him for the past 11 weeks.
The Nuggets and Millsap will meet with doctors after the All-Star break and get an update as to how his wrist is progressing. Depending on doctor’s orders, Millsap could be integrated back into practices after the break which runs from Feb. 16 through Feb. 22.
If all goes well, the team is hopeful that Millsap can return to Denver’s lineup in early to mid-March.
“Hopefully slowly but surely we can reintegrate him back into practice (after the All-Star break) and see how he does with that,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “If he starts doing well with that, maybe by early to mid-March we’ll be able to get him back on the floor. That would be a guesstimate if you will.”
Millsap, who Denver signed to a three-year $90 million contract this summer, injured his left wrist on Nov. 19 against the Lakers. Millsap underwent successful reconstructive surgery a week later.
The team said in a statement following the surgery that Millsap was expected to miss “several months” and his “his return to sport progression will be dependent upon consistent assessment throughout the rehab process.”
In his absence, the Nuggets have gone 20-18.
“He’s getting more comfortable. A lot more activity with the ball in his hands,” Malone said about what Millsap can do at practices. “For a while, it was limited to conditioning but now he’s back on the court working with the ball, right and left hand and obviously it’s great to see. It gets you excited.”
Mason Plumlee — the Nuggets’ other injured big man — is also not expected to return until after the All-Star break. Plumlee suffered a strained right calf on Jan. 29 against the Celtics and has missed Denver’s last four games.
The Nuggets have four games remaining on its schedule before the All-Star break. The Nuggets visit the Rockets and Suns on Friday and Saturday before returning home to host the Spurs on Tuesday. Denver then travels to Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks next Thursday.
