PHILADELPHIA — Nuggets leading scorer Gary Harris will miss his fifth consecutive game with a right knee sprain/strain when Denver visits the 76ers Monday night, according to the team’s injury report released Sunday.
Coach Michael Malone said following the Nuggets’ Sunday practice that Harris will also likely miss Tuesday’s game at Toronto and could “maybe” return for Friday’s contest at Oklahoma City.
“It’s very unfortunate, because it’s killing Gary,” Malone said. “Gary lives for these moments … it’s a big player to be without.”
Malone added that Harris “looked the best he’s looked since the injury occurred” during Sunday’s practice in Philadelphia. He’s gone through shooting work and other rehab exercises during shootarounds and prior to the last couple games on this season-long, seven-game road trip, but Malone has expressed concern about Harris’ inability to run consistently.
Harris, who is averaging 17.7 points per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and 39.9 percent from 3-point range, sustained the injury when he landed awkwardly on his right leg after being fouled on a made dunk late in the fourth quarter of a March 15 home win against Detroit.
Will Barton, who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in Friday’s win at Washington, has started in Harris’ place the past four games.
The Nuggets enter Sunday’s action one game behind Utah for the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.