Jamal Murray has been a ghost for the Denver Nuggets lately. If you've been refreshing your feed every five minutes to see if he’s suiting up, I get it. The Nuggets are currently navigating a brutal stretch where they look less like a title contender and more like an ER waiting room.
The short answer? Jamal Murray is playing today. After missing a string of games due to a nagging left ankle sprain and a nasty bug going around the locker room, he is officially off the injury report for the Wednesday, January 14, 2026, matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
Honestly, it couldn’t happen at a better time. Denver just clawed out a gritty win against Milwaukee, but they did it while looking absolutely exhausted. Having "Blue Arrow" back in the rotation changes the entire math for coach David Adelman, especially with Nikola Jokic still sidelined with that bone bruise in his knee.
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The Jamal Murray Playing Today Reality Check
Here is the deal with Jamal Murray playing today. He was available as of Tuesday night for the New Orleans game, and all signs point to him starting tonight in Dallas. But don't expect him to play 40 minutes. Because this is the first half of a back-to-back set, the training staff is likely going to keep a very close eye on his conditioning.
Murray has been putting up career numbers this season—averaging 25.3 points and 7.5 assists—but he’s also 28 now. He knows his body. The Nuggets know the stakes. They aren't going to risk a Grade 2 sprain just to win a mid-January game in Texas.
Why he sat out recently
A lot of people think it was just the ankle. It wasn't. There was a legitimate illness ripping through the Nuggets' locker room over the last week. Jalen Pickett was so sick he couldn't even stand at the podium for post-game interviews. Murray caught the worst of it. Dealing with a swollen ankle is one thing; trying to sprint for 30 minutes while fighting a fever is a recipe for a disaster.
Impact on the Nuggets Rotation
When we talk about is Jamal Murray playing today, we’re really talking about how much pressure it takes off the bench. Jalen Pickett and Bruce Brown have been Herculean in his absence, but they aren't Murray. They don't have that "turn into a flamethrower" ability that Murray displays in the fourth quarter.
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- Jalen Pickett: Expect his minutes to drop back to the 12-15 range. He’s been great, but he’s a traditional floor general, not a shot creator.
- Bruce Brown: He’ll likely shift back to his "Swiss Army Knife" role. This is where he thrives—cutting to the rim and playing elite perimeter defense without the burden of being the primary scorer.
- Aaron Gordon: AG has been carrying a massive offensive load with both Jokic and Murray out. With Murray back, Gordon can finally go back to being the league's best "dunker spot" threat.
What to Watch for in Dallas
The Mavericks are a nightmare matchup if you aren't 100% healthy. Luka Doncic is going to hunt Murray on switches. He's going to test that ankle immediately. If you're watching the game, keep an eye on how Murray plants on his step-back jumper. That’s the "tell." If he’s hesitant to put weight on that left foot, he might not finish the game.
New Orleans has a bottom-tier defense, which was a nice "soft landing" for his return, but Dallas is a different beast. This is a measuring stick game.
Betting and Fantasy Angles
If you're looking at props, the "Over" on 2.5 three-pointers made is usually a safe bet for Murray when he's fresh. He's shooting a blistering 44.3% from deep this season. However, be cautious with his "Minutes Played" props. The Nuggets have another game on Saturday, and they are notorious for being conservative with their stars' workloads after an injury layoff.
The Long-Term Outlook for Denver
The Nuggets are 25-13, which is incredible considering Jokic, Murray, and Aaron Gordon have all missed significant time. But they can’t keep playing this way. The "next man up" mentality works for a week or two, but eventually, the talent gap catches up to you.
Getting Murray back is the first step toward normalcy. They still need Jokic to return from that knee injury to truly look like themselves, but having a legitimate All-Star point guard back on the floor solves about 60% of their offensive stagnation.
Basically, Denver is playing a dangerous game of "survive and advance" until the All-Star break. If Murray stays healthy from here on out, they should comfortably keep a top-four seed in the West.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're tracking his status for your fantasy lineup or a parlay, make sure to check the official "Active" list 30 minutes before tip-off at 8:30 PM EST. While he is expected to play, late-onset soreness in that ankle during warmups is always a possibility. Set your alerts for the Nuggets' beat writers—they usually get the word first.
Watch for how Murray moves in the first five minutes. If he’s aggressive and attacking the rim, the ankle is fine. If he’s settling for contested long twos, he might still be feeling the effects of the layoff. Keep your expectations tempered for his first week back, but be glad the star is finally back on the hardwood.