Denver Nuggets player Cam Johnson is anticipated to be unavailable for some time after sustaining a bone bruise in his right knee during the concluding quarter of a 131-130 away defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Nevertheless, Johnson reportedly avoided the worst outcome. His MRI scans indicated an absence of structural harm or a significant injury, as per Charania.
The incident occurred with under 10 minutes remaining in the high-scoring contest. Cooper Flagg, who had accumulated 33 points on 14-of-21 shooting, drove into the key but missed a running shot. Flagg then pursued his own miss, attempting to secure an offensive rebound. Johnson was also nearby and jumped for the ball.
Neither player managed to gain possession. The ball deflected towards Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy. As Johnson landed from his rebounding attempt, he collapsed in considerable pain. The professional, in his seventh season, winced while clutching his right knee.
A timeout was called by the Nuggets, stopping the game after Ryan Nembhard successfully converted a mid-range jumper assisted by Hardy.
Nuggets medical personnel attended to Johnson. Eventually, he was able to hobble off the court. Denver listed him as “questionable” to return due to a right knee sprain; however, he did not re-enter the game.
It is noteworthy that in the early part of the 2022-23 season, Johnson suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee while playing for the Phoenix Suns, the team with whom he spent his initial three-plus NBA seasons from 2019 to 2023.
While Johnson’s current injury affects the same knee, its severity does not appear to be as great.
Renowned for his offensive and defensive capabilities, Johnson has posted an average of 11.7 points per game this season, his first with the Nuggets, shooting 46.1% from the field, including an impressive 42.9% from long range. The team acquired him in a trade this past summer, which involved sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets.
Johnson himself had previously arrived in Brooklyn via trade. As part of a four-team transaction that brought Kevin Durant to Phoenix, Johnson and his then-Suns teammate Mikal Bridges were moved to the Nets during the 2022-23 season. Johnson subsequently agreed to a four-year, $108 million contract to stay with the Nets in the following offseason.
Throughout his career, Johnson has achieved a 39.4% success rate from three-point territory. This season, he has been in the starting lineup for all 28 games he has played for the Nuggets, who boast a 21-8 record.
