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Nuggets' Nurkic could return in November

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets finally have some semblance of a timeline for injured center Jusuf Nurkic.

Nurkic underwent knee surgery following his rookie season and the initial recovery timeline had him returning around the start of training camp. That was amended in early September, with the hope he could be ready for the regular season, which soon seemed overly optimistic when he wasn't ready in any form once camp opened.

Presumed to be the team's starting center, the Nuggets are now hoping Nurkic can return "sometime in November," head coach Mike Malone said Tuesday.

Nurkic will continue to do strength and rehabilitation work while the rest of his team practices, including interim starting pivot Joffrey Lauvergne, who's having a strong preseason. Lauvergne is averaging 13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in 25.2 minutes while shooting 59.3 percent, making a strong case to keep the job, at least until Nurkic is back to 100 percent.

Nurkic's absence has also meant additional time for Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 78.4 percent in 19.8 minutes. That production is probably unsustainable, but the preseason has illustrated that the Nuggets may be able to survive inside with their big, young, European frontcourt prospects and some smaller lineups that have Kenneth Faried at the five.

The 6-foot-11, 280-pound Nurkic emerged as a force inside for the Nuggets in 2014-15, averaging 6.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 17.8 minutes. While his shooting left something to be desired - he shot 32.2 percent outside of three feet - his physical presence was obvious, and he ranked 15th among players who played at least 500 minutes in total rebound percentage.

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