Jamal Murray Injury Update: Nuggets Star’s Status for Tonight vs Celtics Revealed

BOSTON — Jamal Murray reminded the NBA why the Denver Nuggets remain contenders even without reigning MVP Nikola Jokić. The Canadian guard delivered 22 points and a career-best 17 assists as Denver rallied past the Boston Celtics 114-110 on Wednesday night, halting Boston’s five-game winning streak and boosting the Nuggets’ momentum in the crowded Western Conference race. Key takeaways for Nuggets fans and fantasy managers • Murray’s playmaking surge: His 17 dimes eclipsed his previous regular-season high, punctuated by a 14-0 fourth-quarter run he orchestrated with rookie wing Peyton Watson (30 points). • Efficient scoring: Murray shot 8-for-14 overall and 4-for-7 from deep, repeatedly exploiting Boston’s drop coverage. • Return from ankle issue: After sitting out Monday’s overtime loss in Philadelphia, Murray showed no lingering effects, logging 38 minutes in his first game back. • Jokic timeline: Denver improved to 3-2 since Jokic suffered a hyperextended left knee on Dec. 30. Team officials continue to list the Serbian star as day-to-day, but Murray’s surge eases pressure on the medical staff to rush his return. Why the performance matters 1. Western Conference seeding: Denver (24-12) trimmed the gap behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder to 1.5 games. 2. Statement road win: Boston entered the night 16-2 at TD Garden. Murray’s late-game poise, including a step-back three over Derrick White, silenced a crowd chanting “M-V-P” for Jaylen Brown. 3. Historic split stats: According to team tracking data, Murray is averaging 10.8 assists in games without Jokic this season, nearly double his season mark with the MVP active. Breaking down the clutch sequence • 5:41 left, Nuggets down 87-90 — Murray finds Watson for a corner triple. • Next possession — Murray snakes a pick-and-roll, threads a bounce pass to Zeke Nnaji for a dunk. • 4:02 — Murray drills a 27-footer, pushing Denver ahead 96-90, a lead it never relinquished. What’s next • Nuggets host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, where Murray will face fellow 2016 draft mate Dejounte Murray for the first time this season. • Celtics look to rebound against Toronto, still awaiting Jayson Tatum’s return from an ankle sprain. SEO spotlight: Fans searching for “Jamal Murray highlights,” “Denver Nuggets injury update,” and “Nuggets vs Celtics recap” will find Murray’s career night central to Denver’s push up the standings. With Jokic sidelined, Murray’s uptick in usage, assists, and clutch efficiency positions him as a must-watch storyline—and a critical fantasy basketball pickup—as January matchups against Atlanta, Phoenix, and Memphis loom.