Danilo Gallinari to miss remainder of season with ankle injury

Another season will end prematurely for talented Italian forward Danilo Gallinari.

The 27-year-old confirmed to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post that he will not return for the remainder of year on account of an ankle injury that he suffered in late-February,

Gallinari was expected to miss a month, but with the Nuggets well outside of the playoff picture, there's no need to rush his recovery. In all, the torn ligaments in his right ankle will have cost him the final 23 games of the season.

Prior to his injury, Gallinar posted an excellent offensive showing with 19.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while ranking among the league leaders in drawing fouls.

His strong play built upon the robust showing he displayed from March onward of last season - one in which he posted two 40-point games following a laborious recovery from knee surgery.

Ultimately, so long as Gallinari can manage to stay on the court, he should be a pivotal piece for Mike Malone's squad going forward. He inked a two-year extension last summer that will carry through until the 2017-18 season.