Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has been given the green light to play in Thursday’s playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder despite battling an illness.
Initially listed as questionable by the Nuggets, head coach David Adelman confirmed pregame that Murray’s status would remain uncertain until tip-off.
“I found out this morning,” Adelman stated. “I’m not a doctor, but he is definitely feeling under the weather and is questionable for the game.”
Just before the scheduled 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off, the Nuggets announced that Murray was cleared to play. Details regarding the nature of his illness were not disclosed.
Murray’s illness comes as a surprise to a Nuggets team facing elimination in the Western Conference semifinals. The Thunder lead the series 3-2 after a Game 5 victory on Tuesday and have the chance to advance with a win on Thursday.
His presence on the court is crucial for a Nuggets team already struggling with depth against a deep Thunder roster. Murray, the team’s top scorer and playmaker, has been averaging 22.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in the playoffs. He has been shooting 44.7% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc, playing an average of 41.8 minutes per game.