Nuggets' Monte Morris: Jamal Murray looks 'ready' to return

The Denver Nuggets are on their way to the playoffs despite not having point guard Jamal Murray all season. One of Murray’s teammates suggested Friday that the guard might be close to a return after all.

Nuggets guard Monte Morris said Murray looks “ready” to play and added that the guard is working out and dunking with both legs.

“His mental (acumen) is there,” Morris said, via Sean Keeler of the Denver Post. “He’s ready to get back out there. He’s looked good. He’s dunking and everything, (with) both legs. It’s a matter of time, I guess, but hopefully we can get him back.”

Morris could certainly be jumping the gun here. Coach Michael Malone sounded a much more conservative note by refusing to rule Murray in or out at any point before Denver’s season ends. Things appear more hopeful than they did a week or two ago, but Murray still does not seem to be on the verge of suiting up.

Murray is recovering from an ACL tear he suffered last April. He’s looked sharp in the brief glimpses we’ve seen of him working out, but there’s a huge difference between gym work and the pace of an NBA game.