Denver Nuggets' Will Barton To Miss 5-6 Weeks With Hip Injury
Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton is reportedly set for surgery and will likely be sidelined until December, according to ESPN's Marc J. Spears.
The player missed the Nuggets win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night after being carted off the court during Saturday's game against the Phoneix Suns. Barton is said to have felt "something pop" after heading for the basket during the third quarter and was made to undergo a subsequent MRI.
The scan revealed an adductor muscle injury, per Spears, and the player is set for surgery this week.
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Barton's injury should come as a huge blow for Denver, who have started the season in remarkable fashion, winning their first three games of the campaign.
Nikola Jokic has been the man for Mike Malone and has been garnering effusive "MVP" chants during games. But Barton, who has averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest so far, had been playing a huge role.
The 27-year-old signed a four-year deal with the Nuggets during the summer, having already spent the last four seasons in Denver. He averaged 15.7 points and 4.1 assists per game last season and his absence could prove costly for Malone, who has been doing a fantastic job so far, also signing a new deal with the team ahead of their season-opening match.
The head coach will likely rely on small forward Torrey Craig in Barton's absence. Craig came up big on the defensive end against Golden State on Sunday and should be depended upon moving forward as Malone looks to the rest of his team to step up.
“It was unfortunate what happened to Will, but then at the same time, somebody gotta be able to step up,” Craig said in the wake of Sunday's victory.
“He’s in good spirits, still motivating us, talking, being the leader that he is, giving us tips. He broke down the huddle today before the game. He’s doing real good.”
