Paul Millsap could return Tuesday vs. Clippers

Paul Millsap is close to returning from the left wrist injury that’s sidelined him since mid-November. Millsap was upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Nuggets announced Monday.

Millsap tore a ligament in his left wrist in a Nov. 19 game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He underwent reconstructive surgery and has missed Denver’s last 44 games. The Nuggets have gone 24-20 without him. They’ve stayed competitive in a brutal Western Conference without their highest-paid player.

Millsap went through his first practice since suffering the injury Wednesday. Nuggets coach Michael Malone hinted prior to Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets that Millsap was still one to two weeks away from being able to play in games.

“It’s just great to have him back in the mix,” Malone said. “Whether it’s in a week, two weeks, whenever we get him back, I look forward to working him back into the lineup and getting him back into playing shape and rounding the corner as we approach the middle of April deadline.”

Millsap, who played in 73 regular-season games or more in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons coming into this year, said missing this extended amount of time was perhaps the most difficult things he’s dealt with in his professional career.

“Very challenging,” Millsap said. “Probably the toughest thing I’ve been through in my basketball career missing so many games, having surgery for the first time, rehabbing.”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said last week he’ll bring Millsap off the bench at first to help him gradually adjust to the grind of playing in NBA games.

The Nuggets need Millsap’s defense back in the lineup. Denver ranks sixth in offensive rating since Millsap got hurt but has the fourth-worst defense in basketball.