Cameron Johnson moved from out to cleared on Friday night's injury report after missing time with a right ankle injury. The Nuggets forward is available for Friday's 10 p.m. ET game at Phoenix.
What happened
Cameron Johnson has been cleared to play. The Nuggets forward went from out to cleared on the injury report at 9:11 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 30, less than an hour before the scheduled tip at Phoenix. He first showed up with the right ankle injury on Thursday, Oct. 22, when he was listed as day-to-day. He moved to out on Oct. 23, back to day-to-day on Oct. 25 and to out again on Oct. 28. The report gave no comment and no other detail on the ankle.
What it means for the Nuggets
Denver plays at Phoenix at 10 p.m. ET Friday. The Nuggets are 2-2, sit ninth and won their last game. Johnson has played once this season. He logged 11.3 minutes with 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist, and Denver lost that game. The Nuggets are 2-1 without him. In those games the minutes went to Jamal Murray (38.5), Nikola Jokic (37.1), Christian Braun (35.8), Aaron Gordon (30.5), DeMar DeRozan (26.5), Trevon Brazile (23.7), Alpha Diallo (22.2) and Bryce Hopkins (16.5). Diallo is out for personal reasons. Julian Strawther (left knee) and Spencer Jones (hamstring) are also out. That makes Johnson's return a needed extra body.
What to watch
The first thing to watch is how much Johnson plays at Phoenix after more than a week of ankle trouble. A minutes limit has not been announced. Over that stretch he went back and forth between day-to-day and out twice, so the next injury report matters. It will show whether the ankle keeps him off the list. Diallo, Strawther and Jones remain out, and their statuses will shape how Denver uses him.
Is Cameron Johnson playing at Suns on Friday?
He is cleared. The injury report at 9:11 p.m. ET on Oct. 30 changed his status from out to cleared ahead of the 10 p.m. ET game at Phoenix.
When will Cameron Johnson be back?
He is back now. He was cleared on Oct. 30 after being listed with a right ankle injury since Oct. 22. A minutes limit has not been announced.