If the Denver Nuggets were hoping that the return of their star power forward Danilo Gallinari would spark the club and help them climb back into the playoff chase in the NBA’s Western Conference, they will have to think about Plan B. The Nuggets announced on Tuesday that Gallinari, who has not played this year, will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL and will be out until early next season.
Gallinari originally suffered the injury last April. While he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus suffered on the same play, it was hoped that he could avoid an ACL reconstruction through strengthening the partially torn ligament. As it became obvious that strengthening and rehab would not be enough to get him back on the court, he will now undergo the procedure.
Gallinari averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in 71 games for the Nuggets last season. He was one of the club’s breakout stars and helped them to a 15-game winning streak and the number 3 seed in the Western Conference. However Gallinari’s injury, suffered in an April 4th game against the Dallas Mavericks was a major blow to the Nuggets, and effectively derailed the club prior to their first round playoff loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The Nuggets are currently 20-20 on the season, and while that record would have them sitting pretty in the East, it is not near enough in the tough Western Conference. If they are going to improve in the second half of the season, they will have to find a way to do it without their best power forward.
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