DeMar DeRozan is cleared to play after being tagged day-to-day two days earlier. He is available for Denver's game at the Lakers on Friday night.
What happened
DeRozan was cleared on the Nuggets' injury report Friday, Oct. 16 at 9:22 PM ET, removing the day-to-day tag he had carried since Wednesday, Oct. 14, when he was listed as day-to-day for rest. No further detail was given on the report, and there was no accompanying comment. The clearance means he carries no injury designation into Denver's game at the Lakers.
What it means for the Nuggets
Denver plays at the Lakers on Friday, Oct. 16 at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN. Last season DeRozan played 77 games for Denver, averaging 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 31.2 minutes, and his clearance puts that production back in the lineup mix. In games without him, the rotation leaned on Jamal Murray (35.4 minutes, 25.4 points) and Nikola Jokic (34.8 minutes, 27.7 points), with Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Peyton Watson, Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown also drawing extended minutes. The Nuggets are 0-0, with the 2026-27 season not yet underway.
What to watch
DeRozan has no return timeline to track since he is already cleared, and no expected-return date was announced. The next injury report will show whether the clearance holds through Friday's tip-off at the Lakers. Elsewhere on Denver's report, Julian Strawther is out with a left leg knee issue, Spencer Jones is day-to-day with a hamstring, and Aaron Gordon is day-to-day for rest.
Is DeMar DeRozan playing at the Lakers?
Yes. He was cleared on the injury report Friday, Oct. 16 at 9:22 PM ET, with no designation heading into the game at the Lakers.
When will DeMar DeRozan be back?
He is already back. He had been listed day-to-day for rest on Wednesday, Oct. 14, but the Nuggets cleared him two days later.