Jonas Valanciunas is out for at least a month with a calf strain
Injury bug hits Denver Nuggets hard now. With four of the five starters out due to injury, including Nikola Jokićnow it appears the team will be without a backup center Jonas Valanciunas some time.
Reports indicate Valanciunas, 33, suffered a calf strain during the Nuggets’ 106-103 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Denver found out Thursday that it would be out for at least a month and will be reevaluated in four weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks after suffering a strained right calf in Wednesday’s win at Toronto, sources tell ESPN. Another injury blow for third-seeded Denver, which loses 4 of 5 starters, including Nikola Jokic and now his backup.”
That means Denver is without its starting and backup centers. The Nuggets office you may have to make a move by signing someone out of free agency or potentially making some sort of trade. Until then, head coach David Adelman will have to get creative with the lineup.
Before suffering a calf injury, Jonas Valanciunas served as a solid backup option off the bench. The 14-year veteran has played in every game so far this season. That 33-game streak will end Friday when he sits out the Nuggets’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Valanciunas is currently in the 2025/2026 season. averaged 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He is also shooting 59.3% from the field and 25.0% from the three-point line.
2026-01-02 00:47:00
