Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington to play on despite injury - NBA Update
Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington left early in the 3rd frame on Monday night’s games against Golden State Warriors and it was later on revealed that he has a torn meniscus in the right knee.
Normally a player would refrain from any on court action after such an injury, but Harrington decided to do otherwise. He knows that his team is clinging onto a playoff spot and needs him more than ever, especially in the game
against Minnesota Timberwolves.
“You’re limited,” Harrington said today after shootaround, in regards to the injury. “You can’t really bend and explode. For me, the biggest thing it’s bothering me with is rebound. But I can move forward and laterally. I want
to finish this thing out. And this is the best part of the season when you’re in the hunt like this, trying to get a playoff spot. So I’m not going to leave the guys hanging.”
He did play in the game against the Wolves and justified his role with 11 points and 4 rebounds in Nuggets 113-107 victory. His explosiveness was limited due to the protective braces and was clearly facing difficulty with rebounds.
Denver, 32-26, are currently on the 8th playoff spot in Western conference with the same record as that of the seventh placed Houston Rockets. Nuggets still have 7 more games left in the regular season and with Utah
Jazz and Phoenix Suns just breathing below their necks, things can change dramatically.
The 32 years old veteran knows the importance of the next upcoming games and his decision is both bold and heroic. But all the same, he is also in contact with the doctors as the injury might worsen. If that happened, he will have
no choice but to undergo a surgery.
"My biggest concern is making sure I can't make myself worse from this, put myself in danger to hurt something else," Harrington said. "That's the biggest thing I'm going to through with the doctors, to make sure I can continue
to play at a high level without putting myself at a risk."
Al Harrington has been averaging 14.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in this season and is on par with any of the 1st unit players. His impact especially on the defense is a lot more than the stats indicate.
Nuggets have been suffering blow after blow with player’s injuries. Wilson Chandler has sidelined due to hip strain while Danilo Gallinari just came back on Monday after missing 10 games due to a broken left thumb.
In the prime time of the season, Harrington’s heroic decision will go down into the history as a testament for loyalty and devotion to the franchise. He has indeed put his team before himself.
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