The Denver Nuggets (9-9) are in a freefall down the standings in the Western Conference after losing their fifth straight game to the Portland Trail Blazers (10-8) 119-100 on Thursday night. What made things even worse is that they lost another rotation player in P.J. Dozier, who the Nuggets believe is out for the season with an ACL tear in his left knee. ESPN’s Arian Wojnarowski reported the news.
Denver Nuggets guard P.J. Dozier is feared to have suffered an ACL tear to his left knee, sources tell ESPN. More evaluation needs to be done today, but initial imaging late Tuesday in Portland suggested a possible end to his season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 24, 2021
Dozier only played four minutes before getting his legs tangled up with Cody Zeller’s while attempting a layup in the first quarter. He finished the night with two points and two rebounds.
another Nuggets injury, Dozier just tore his ACL pic.twitter.com/bfkwMM4Xkz
— Ted Buddy 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) November 24, 2021
This injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Denver Nuggets, a team without Jamal Murray, who hasn’t suited up this season dealing with his own knee issues. Michael Porter Jr.’s back injury suffered a few weeks ago is still a significant topic of concern. Their reigning MVP center, Nikola Jokic, has not played in the Nuggets’ last three games with a wrist injury with no set timetable on his return to the lineup.
P.J. Dozier averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds through the first 18 games of the 2021-22 season.
