Nuggets’ Facundo Campazzo expected to make return from injury against Cavaliers – The Denver Post

Nuggets point guard Facundo Campazzo will return to play Wednesday night against the Cavaliers at Ball Arena to help bolster Denver’s injury-plagued backcourt, coach Michael Malone told reporters pregame.

Campazzo, a 29-year-old NBA rookie signed by Denver from Real Madrid, had missed the past two games. A knee injury held him out of Saturday’s loss at the Kings. Campazzo was medically cleared to play Monday against the Bucks, Malone said, but he sat out for precautionary reasons.

“There was a chance he could have played (on Monday),” Malone said. “But it’s one thing saying a guy is cleared to play, and for me, it’s another thing looking a guy in the eyes and saying: ‘Are you ready to play?’

“I just got the sense that maybe another game (of rest) would be best for him to feel better about what he’s dealing with and that knee. He was in the gym this morning. He looks good. We’re definitely going to throw him out there tonight unless something crazy happens … which I don’t see happening.”

Campazzo, prior to tip-off against Cleveland, had appeared in 20 games this season coming off the bench. His statistical impact has been pedestrian, averaging 3.7 points and 1.7 assists per game. But the Nuggets need him more than ever as starting point guard Jamal Murray has struggled to stay healthy and the team remains without starter Gary Harris (thigh) and PJ Dozier (knee).

“I love (Campazzo’s) toughness, his grit, his defense, and his ability to make winning plays,” Malone said. “He’s been on the floor in close games for us this season and I think he’s only going to get better. We’ve definitely missed him the last couple of games. To me, he’s kind of the guy that no one likes playing against. He’s just into you all game long. He’s an irritant. He gets into you.

“We need more of that.”

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