DeMar DeRozan is listed as out with a back and torso issue on the Wednesday night injury report. The Nuggets, 3-3 and 10th in the standings, lose a 10.7-point scorer, and the report lists Nov. 7 as his expected return.
What happened
DeRozan appeared on the official injury report at 9:16 p.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 4, as out with a back and torso issue. No earlier status is listed on this report. Earlier in the timeline, he was day-to-day with a rest designation on Oct. 14 and was cleared on Oct. 16. The report's only comment looks back at his last game. DeRozan scored nine points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from the line, with one rebound, in 20 minutes of Monday's 118-110 loss to the Trail Blazers. The report lists Nov. 7 as his expected return.
What it means for the Nuggets
Denver's next game on the schedule is against the Raptors, listed for 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. That is 16 minutes before the report's timestamp. The Nuggets are 3-3, 10th in the standings, and have lost one straight. DeRozan, 37, is averaging 10.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 25.1 minutes over six games. Denver has not yet played a game without him, so there is no record to compare. Cameron Johnson (26.2 minutes), Trevon Brazile (21.9), Bryce Hopkins (16.5) and Alpha Diallo (13.9) are the depth options in the rotation. Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones are also out.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether the Nov. 7 return date holds. The report lists that date as his expected return, and nothing beyond it is announced. Watch the Nuggets' lineup in the first game he misses to see how the minutes are split among Johnson, Brazile, Hopkins and Diallo. Strawther (knee) and Jones (hamstring) are both out, which leaves the bench thin. Denver has not announced a timeline for either player.
Is DeMar DeRozan playing vs the Raptors?
No. The official injury report lists DeRozan as out with a back and torso issue. The report was filed at 9:16 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
When will DeMar DeRozan be back?
The injury report lists Nov. 7 as his expected return. Denver has not announced anything beyond that date.