Denver Nuggets starting forward Kenneth Faried will be out for roughly the next 7-10 days, Nick Kosmider of the Denver Post reports.
Kenneth Faried did not make the trip to Chicago. Back in Denver getting treatment. Malone estimates he'll be out at least 7-10 days.
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) February 28, 2017
Faried, 27, has missed five of the Nuggets last seven games due to both back and ankle injuries. Denver went 3-4 in that span.
Since reclaiming his starting job, Faried has been solid for Denver, averaging 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest in games he has started this season.
Faried played a big part in the uprising of Serbian center Nikola Jokic. The Manimal’s energized, rapid style of play has helped lead the Nuggets to a 14-11 record since reinserting Jokic into the team’s starting lineup.
The injury to Faried should give other players the opportunity to fight for more minutes in the rotation. Health-permitting, Darrell Arthur will likely see a bump in playing time, as well as Wilson Chandler, who started in Faried’s place Sunday.
With that, Faried has been solid for Denver this season. When on the court, Faried seems to help instill offensive flow which has translated to victories for the Nuggets in recent time.
The Nuggets are 2-3 in games Faried has not played in for the month of February.
The Nuggets have five games over the next 7-10 days, with the contest against either the Washington Wizards or Boston Celtics being a realistic target game for Faried to make his return.
Denver has 23 games left this season.
