Craig able to return after nasal contusion
Torrey Craig came back. The Nuggets thought they’d have to spend the rest of Wednesday night without their defensive ace after he suffered a nasal contusion, but the 6-foot-7 small forward returned to the floor — with a mask over the upper part of his face — with three minutes left in the third quarter of the Nuggets’ NBA Playoffs Western Conference semifinal Game 2 against Portland.
Craig had been helped off the court with 11:36 to go in the first half of Wednesday’s contest after a pair of nasty collisions. A Nuggets official told The Post that Craig as “questionable” to return to the contest.
Craig was chasing a rebound off a Trail Blazers free throw early in the second quarter, going to the air at the same time as Portland’s 7-foot center Zach Collins in the middle of the lane, taking a blow from Collins before coming down accidentally on what appeared to be the foot of teammate Monte Morris.
Morris appeared slightly shaken on the play but didn’t show ill effects. Craig, who averaged 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds over the Nuggets’ 4-3 series win over San Antonio, collapsed as play continued around him and was bleeding profusely from his face.
The Nuggets were trailing 2923 at the time and Portland center Enes Kanter took the ball off the scramble and dunked it to extend the Blazers’ lead to eight while Craig continued to lay on the ground.
Craig had suffered a similar injury before preseason training camp, requiring him to wear a protective face mask for a spell.