Paul Millsap will receive "additional evaluation" on left wrist, Nuggets say

The Nuggets are still trying to determine the best course of action to deal with Paul Millsap‘s left wrist injury, the team announced.

On Wednesday, the Nuggets said  “additional evaluation and consultation is ongoing to determine the best course of medical care” to repair Millsap’s injured left wrist ligament. That came less than a day after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Millsap will have surgery and could be sidelined for three months.

“He’s back in Denver right now, met with our doctors yesterday,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Wednesday after shootaround, according to Altitude’s Chris Dempsey. “And I think just being as thorough as possible. He’s going to talk to some other doctors, get some other opinions before we make a decision as to what the best course of action is regarding his left wrist.”

Millsap sustained the injury against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. He missed the second half of that game as well as the Nuggets’ win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

The 32-year-old power forward has played in 73 games or more in nine of his 11 NBA seasons. He’s never played fewer than 64 regular-season games.

Millsap signed a three-year, $90 million deal with Denver this offseason. He was settling in nicely in the starting lineup alongside Nikola Jokic before the injury. The five-man combination of Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler, Millsap and Jokic was outscoring opponents by 12 points per 100 possessions.

Millsap’s absence will hurt most on the defensive end. Denver is giving up roughly five points per 100 possessions fewer on defense this season compared to last.

Kenneth Faried will likely step in as the starting power forward if Millsap does indeed miss an extended amount of time.

Nuggets face high-scoring Rockets

The Nuggets (10-7) encounter a tough test in their second game without Millsap in the starting lineup. The Houston Rockets (13-4) are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They’ve won eight of their last nine games. Houston is outscoring opponents by 8.8 points per 100 possessions, a mark that only Golden State exceeds.

The Rockets are playing their usual brand of efficient offense — they’re ranked second in offensive efficiency — and surprisingly check in at ninth in defensive efficiency.

James Harden finished second in MVP voting last season and is playing like he wants to win it this year. Harden is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.9 assists. Chris Paul is back in Houston’s starting lineup after being sidelined with a bruised knee. He scored 17 points in 24 minutes in the Rockets’ win over the Grizzlies on Saturday.

Denver should have everyone available except for Millsap. Small forward Wilson Chandler, who missed Monday’s game with back soreness, went through shootaround and is available tonight, Malone said.

The game tips off at 6 p.m.

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

Jamal Murray
Gary Harris
Wilson Chandler
Kenneth Faried
Nikola Jokic[/column]
[column size=”1/2″]Rockets Starters

Chris Paul
James Harden
Trevor Ariza
Ryan Anderson
Clint Capela[/column]
[/columns]