Photo: Peter Baba

The Denver Nuggets welcomed back three key forwards on Friday, as Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Spencer Jones were all available for the matchup with New York.

Gordon returned while managing a minutes restriction after missing 17 straight games, a development the team viewed as especially encouraging, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.

Nikola Jokic emphasized how much Gordon’s presence, along with that of the injured Peyton Watson, strengthens Denver’s defense.

“I think (we missed him) more on the defensive side,” Jokic said, alluding also to the injured Peyton Watson.

“They’re really good on offense, and they give us different variation and different weapons on offense. But I think their length and their ability to guard, we kind of miss more. Definitely, it’s gonna help us.”

Durando notes that it was the first time since November 12 that Denver’s original starting five of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Johnson, Gordon, and Jokic were all active.

However, the reunion was short-lived. Murray suffered a left ankle sprain late in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

Head coach David Adelman said Murray will undergo further evaluation on Saturday.

According to reporting from Arnie Melendrez Stapleton of The Associated Press, Adelman described the veteran guard as “really sore,” though he noted that Murray usually recovers quickly from ankle injuries.

“This has just been insane,” Adelman said.

“Every time we get somebody back I feel like somebody else goes out. … So, whatever group we have that is healthy for OKC (Sunday), whatever minute restrictions there are and all the excuses, we just have to play a hell of a lot better.”

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