LOS ANGELES -- Denver Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray sat out for a second consecutive game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers as they continue to nurse nagging injuries.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone said before the team's 120-108 loss that Christian Braun, who also missed Denver's win Monday at the Golden State Warriors due to left foot inflammation, would play against the Lakers and that Jokic and Murray were "much more questionable." Braun finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes.
Murray, who has a sprained right ankle, struggled to move during a brief one-on-one matchup with Denver assistant coach John Beckett more than two hours before Wednesday's tipoff. Jokic, the three-time MVP, is dealing with left ankle impingement and a contusion to his right, shooting elbow.
"You listen to your body," Malone said. "I have to, as a head coach, trust our players as well as trust the training staff."
Malone took issue with the perception that the Nuggets are opting to rest Jokic and Murray, especially against teams that they are competing against for Western Conference playoff seeding.
"I think that's just a bunch of bulls---," Malone said. "I mean, in the last 10 years, Nikola Jokic has played the second-most games in the NBA. Ten years. And the guys in that top 10, none of them are superstars.
"So, if Nikola is not playing, it's not because he's sitting. It's not because he needs rest. It's because he's hurt and he's trying to play through things that most wouldn't. We're at a point right now where we have to do what's best for not just Nikola but for all our guys as we move forward and try to close out this season."