Nuggets guard Jamal Murray gingerly walked off the court late in the second quarter of Thursday’s 103-97 win over the Miami Heat.

Murray drove past Jimmy Butler and jumped to make a pass to Nikola Jokic before landing on Aaron Gordon’s foot and turning his right ankle. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope committed a foul to stop play and allow Denver’s trainers to attend to the star guard. Murray was able to walk back to the tunnel on his own but was in obvious pain. The starting point guard had six points and three assists in 14 first-half minutes before leaving the game for good.

“I talked to him right at the half, and he thought he was going to be able to try to maybe give it a go, see how it warmed up. It just wasn’t responding the way he had hoped. I think it was a smart decision not to have him out there. (We’re) just trying to be as careful as possible at this point of the season.”

At halftime, the team announced Murray was questionable to return with a right ankle sprain. He was not seen on the bench in the second half. Murray has also been dealing with shin splints in recent weeks.

Reggie Jackson started the second half in Murray’s place, and Denver played without a true point guard for portions of the second half.

Malone said it’s too early to tell whether or not Murray will be available for Saturday’s game against the Lakers, but the Nuggets coach has stressed Murray and the training staff would need to be confident he could play effectively against the Lakers to be cleared. Malone has reiterated he would rather his team be healthy to start the playoffs than prioritize the top seed in the Western Conference.

“He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around. Mentally, physically, he can play through things that a lot of guys wouldn’t even consider playing through,” Malone said.

“All tomorrow is going to be is meet at the plane, fly to LA and get ready for the Lakers. He’ll come in, and all the other guys will come in and get some kind of treatment, some player development prior to the flight. … If there’s any hesitancy, then, you know, he won’t play in LA if the ankle is not right.”

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

David Zalubowski

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is defended by Heats Orlando Robinson and Jaime Jaquez, Jr. during the second quarter of a game at Ball Arena on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)