SAN FRANCISCO — The Denver Nuggets lost Monday night to the Golden State Warriors, but the game immediately became an afterthought.
With just under a minute to go in the fourth quarter, star point guard Jamal Murray drove to the hoop and landed awkwardly on his left knee. In what looked to be a non-contact injury, Murray immediately was in agonizing pain under the Warriors' basket.
The Nuggets announced Tuesday morning that Murray has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the left knee. The Nuggets said Murray "will be out indefinitely."
On Tuesday afternoon Murray said on Instagram: "Can take the dog out of the fight..BUT YOU AINT EVER GON TAKE THE FIGHT OUT OF THE DOG."
Murray was helped off the floor Monday night after several minutes, declining a wheelchair to take him away, but unable to put any pressure on the knee when heading to the locker room.
Murray had missed Denver's previous four games with right knee soreness, but this was the opposite leg.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said after Monday's game Murray would get imaging on the knee, but didn't have an update on the severity of the injury. That severity was confirmed Tuesday morning by the team with the devastating MRI results.
"(It's) obviously a very down locker room. Yes we lost the game, but I think everyone's thoughts are with Jamal," Malone said.
The final score was 116-107 Warriors. Steph Curry scored 53 points to lead Golden State and passed Wilt Chamberlin as the franchise's all-time scoring leading.
Nikola Jokic had 27 points for the Nuggets and Michael Porter Jr. had 24, but the night will be remembered for what happened to Murray.
Denver is scheduled to be off Tuesday before playing against Miami at Ball Arena on Wednesday night.
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