Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets have made a solid start to the 2023-24 season as they look to defend their NBA championship from a year ago. Murray has mostly looked the part of the legit Number Two option he was during last year’s playoff run, and the Nuggets presently have the NBA’s second-best record at 6-1 on the season.

However, Denver will have to find a way to win without their point guard when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, as Murray has been ruled out due to a right hamstring strain, according to the official NBA injury report.

While Murray hasn’t put up the jaw-dropping stats that fans have grown accustomed to in 2023-24, the sheer threat of his scoring and shooting prowess has helped space the floor for reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, who has continued to look like the best player in the world through the first seven games of the season.

Denver suffered its sole setback of the season last week in an ugly road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves; however, the team has since rebounded with victories over the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls to maintain its excellent record. If championship hangover exists, the Nuggets have showed no signs of succumbing to it thus far this season.