Eight group play games will take place throughout the evening when the NBA Cup begins on Friday. Both teams are off to strong starts when the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. ET. In the middle of this, Jamal Murray, the fringe All-Star point guard for the Denver Nuggets, has continued to write a brilliant start to the 2025–26 season in an effort to shake the label of "fringe." Murray was listed on the Nuggets' injury report with a doubtful tag because of soreness in his left calf before their NBA Cup game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
A sudden setback clouds Jamal Murray’s blazing start as Denver weighs a cautious next move
After losing to Golden State on opening night, Denver has won three straight games, including Wednesday night's 122-88 victory. Portland lost their first game as well, but they have since won three of four games, including two in a row.
Despite spending the whole last game on the bench, Murray managed to play 25 minutes, which is the fourth most of any player on the club. He struggled with the same issue in the 2024 postseason, and it was evident that it affected him when he faced a physically demanding Timberwolves team in the Conference Semifinals.
Denver announced their official report to the NBA on Thursday, listing Murray as questionable with left calf tightness. The team wrote on X:
“Injury Report ahead of tomorrow's game against the Trail Blazers: PROBABLE: Cameron Johnson (Right Shoulder Inflammation) QUESTIONABLE: Jamal Murray (Left Calf Tightness) #MileHighBasketball.”
Murray has put on a number of incredible performances and averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds for Denver in their first four games of the season. However, a recent update from the Nuggets has raised doubts about his availability for their first NBA Cup game of the year.
Given that Murray's amazing start to the new season was halted by a calf injury, Denver could be better off either keeping him out of their next fight completely or thinking about limiting his minutes.
At this stage of the season, head coach David Adelman should be concerned about the possibility of exacerbating a calf injury and then missing your second-best player for a long time as their matchup with a youthful, physically fit Trail Blazers team draws near.
Murray would probably face Portland's All-Defensive Team-caliber forward Toumani Camara if he were to play for the Nuggets on Friday night. This would be a one-on-one match that would require the 28-year-old guard for the Nuggets to put in a lot of effort and use extra force in an attempt to get open looks.
Injury setback threatens Jamal Murray’s breakout quest as Denver holds its breath over his latest setback
Murray has averaged 27 points per game on 50/41/94 shooting splits so far this season, which is comparable to his 2023 Western Conference Finals performance against the Lakers, when he averaged 30 points on comparable, elusive splits.
Murray has only averaged 15.8 points a game in October throughout his career, which is significantly lower than his typical numbers. He's made significant progress this season in an attempt to earn his first All-Star selection, but the much-needed momentum he's established from the start could be derailed if this injury keeps him out for a while.
Murray was listed on the Nuggets' injury report with a doubtful tag because of soreness in his left calf before their NBA Cup game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Injury has been a major factor in his lack of notice, and his persistent calf problems are also a worry. Throughout his career, he has struggled with left calf pain, most notably during the 2024 NBA Playoffs. We'll keep an eye on his condition. His next chance would be on Monday at home against the Sacramento Kings if he is unable to play on Friday.
Also read: Portland Trail Blazers Vs Minnesota Timberwolves (10-22-2025) game preview: When and where to watch, expected lineup, prediction, and more
A sudden setback clouds Jamal Murray’s blazing start as Denver weighs a cautious next move
After losing to Golden State on opening night, Denver has won three straight games, including Wednesday night's 122-88 victory. Portland lost their first game as well, but they have since won three of four games, including two in a row.
Despite spending the whole last game on the bench, Murray managed to play 25 minutes, which is the fourth most of any player on the club. He struggled with the same issue in the 2024 postseason, and it was evident that it affected him when he faced a physically demanding Timberwolves team in the Conference Semifinals.
Denver announced their official report to the NBA on Thursday, listing Murray as questionable with left calf tightness. The team wrote on X:
“Injury Report ahead of tomorrow's game against the Trail Blazers: PROBABLE: Cameron Johnson (Right Shoulder Inflammation) QUESTIONABLE: Jamal Murray (Left Calf Tightness) #MileHighBasketball.”
Injury Report ahead of tomorrow's game against the Trail Blazers:
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 30, 2025
PROBABLE:
Cameron Johnson (Right Shoulder Inflammation)
QUESTIONABLE:
Jamal Murray (Left Calf Tightness)#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/POPxCuMkpL
Murray has put on a number of incredible performances and averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds for Denver in their first four games of the season. However, a recent update from the Nuggets has raised doubts about his availability for their first NBA Cup game of the year.
Given that Murray's amazing start to the new season was halted by a calf injury, Denver could be better off either keeping him out of their next fight completely or thinking about limiting his minutes.
At this stage of the season, head coach David Adelman should be concerned about the possibility of exacerbating a calf injury and then missing your second-best player for a long time as their matchup with a youthful, physically fit Trail Blazers team draws near.
Murray would probably face Portland's All-Defensive Team-caliber forward Toumani Camara if he were to play for the Nuggets on Friday night. This would be a one-on-one match that would require the 28-year-old guard for the Nuggets to put in a lot of effort and use extra force in an attempt to get open looks.
Injury setback threatens Jamal Murray’s breakout quest as Denver holds its breath over his latest setback
Murray has averaged 27 points per game on 50/41/94 shooting splits so far this season, which is comparable to his 2023 Western Conference Finals performance against the Lakers, when he averaged 30 points on comparable, elusive splits.
Murray has only averaged 15.8 points a game in October throughout his career, which is significantly lower than his typical numbers. He's made significant progress this season in an attempt to earn his first All-Star selection, but the much-needed momentum he's established from the start could be derailed if this injury keeps him out for a while.
Murray was listed on the Nuggets' injury report with a doubtful tag because of soreness in his left calf before their NBA Cup game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Injury has been a major factor in his lack of notice, and his persistent calf problems are also a worry. Throughout his career, he has struggled with left calf pain, most notably during the 2024 NBA Playoffs. We'll keep an eye on his condition. His next chance would be on Monday at home against the Sacramento Kings if he is unable to play on Friday.
Also read: Portland Trail Blazers Vs Minnesota Timberwolves (10-22-2025) game preview: When and where to watch, expected lineup, prediction, and more
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