DeMar DeRozan was upgraded from out to day-to-day with a back and torso issue on Thursday. The injury report lists Saturday, Nov. 7 as his expected return date, the day the Nuggets play at Indiana.
What happened
The Nuggets moved DeMar DeRozan from out to day-to-day on the injury report Thursday at 10:11 a.m. ET. The listed injury is back and torso. On Wednesday he was ruled out for the game against the Raptors. The report's comment says DeRozan was ruled out for that game because of lower-back spasms. The report lists an expected return of Nov. 7. His earlier history on the report is a rest designation on Oct. 14 as day-to-day, which was cleared on Oct. 16. Denver has not announced whether he will play Saturday.
What it means for the Nuggets
Denver plays at the Pacers on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 5:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV. The Nuggets are 4-3, ninth in the seeding, and have won one straight. DeRozan, 37, has played six games and averages 25.1 minutes, 10.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Denver is 3-3 with him and 1-0 without him. In the game he missed, Jamal Murray played 37.0 minutes and Nikola Jokic 35.9. Christian Braun got 35.1, Aaron Gordon 29.5 and Cameron Johnson 27.1. Trevon Brazile played 22.1 minutes, Bryce Hopkins 18.7 and Marvin Bagley III 12.4. Julian Strawther and Spencer Jones are also out.
What to watch
The next injury report update should settle his status for Saturday's game at Indiana. He is listed as day-to-day, so a game-day designation is still to come. The expected return date of Nov. 7 matches the Pacers game, but the team has not confirmed he will play. If he sits again, the rotation from Wednesday is the likely template. Strawther and Jones remain out, so Denver's depth is thin on the wing.
Is DeMar DeRozan playing at the Pacers on Saturday?
Not announced. He is day-to-day with a back and torso issue, and the injury report lists Nov. 7, the date of the Pacers game, as his expected return.
When will DeMar DeRozan be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Nov. 7. The Nuggets have not announced whether he will play that day at Indiana.