Mudiay finally ready to play after missing almost a month

The Nuggets’ rookie point guard won’t start and will be on a time restriction.

It has been nearly a month since Emmanuel Mudiay participated in an NBA game, but at last the Nuggets’ rookie point guard appears ready to return.

Mudiay participated in full-contact basketball for the first time in 25 days Tuesday and passed that test well enough to put him in the mix to play against Minnesota on Wednesday night. Mudiay has missed the past 11 games with a sprained right ankle deltoid.

“Felt really good to be out there,” Mudiay said. “Now it’s just a matter of having confidence in my foot.”

Malone and the Nuggets’ training staff want to see how Mudiay’s ankle responds Wednesday morning to the full load he put it through Tuesday. If Mudiay is able to get through the shootaround with no soreness, he’ll play, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

“It was great to see him back, on the floor, practicing, contact, going through everything live,” Malone said.

“This is the first time in 25, 26 days he’s done anything live. So hopefully he wakes up, he’s feeling pretty well and he can go through shootaround and he can play. It’s good to have him back.”

Malone said Mudiay, who injured the ankle against Minnesota on Dec. 11, would be on a minutes restriction and would not start. Veteran Jameer Nelson has been starting in his place.

“Right now, my gut feeling is to work him in, bring him in off the bench, let him get his feel back after missing as many games as he has,” Malone said. “That will also allow him to play against more second-line guys, get a little more comfortable, get his confidence back — not that he’s lost confidence. But just to feel good out there.

“Then, if he’s able to take his starting job back, then we’ll put him back in the lineup. But right now, I’m just thrilled that he’s able

to practice and hopefully play. We have definitely missed him, and it will give us a lift in our backcourt.”

Mudiay is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 assists per game. He had started all 23 games he has played in this season. His return would restore the Nuggets’ full complement of point guards, which should relieve a lot of time load recently heaped upon Nelson.

Mudiay “looked real good” in Tuesday’s practice, teammate Will Barton said.

“I’m glad to see him back on the court,” Barton said. “He was active. He was getting up and down, making plays.”

Sitting and watching had become frustrating for Mudiay.

“It’s the worst,” he said. “I don’t know what to do with myself, to be honest with you. But other than that, I’ve just been trying to be the best cheerleader I can be, and at the same time I’m learning a lot just by sitting there and watching, seeing it from another perspective. So it’s been helpful, too.”