Vanderbilt gets his chance with injured Plumlee out

If there’s any bright side to the rash of injuries that have plagued the Nuggets over the last two weeks, it’s that there are now ample opportunities for reserves to find significant minutes on the court.

In the wake of the Mason Plumlee news — the center will be re-evaluated in two to four weeks with a right cuboid (foot) injury — reserve forwards Jarred Vanderbilt and Vlatko Cancar saw playing time against the Rockets on Wednesday night.

“Just find ways, that’s our biggest challenge right now,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said from Wednesday’s shootaround at a Houston-area high school. “Don’t waste an ounce of energy on the guys that can’t play. Let’s figure out who can play and go out there, fight and give ourselves a chance.”

Vanderbilt, a Houston native, has played 10 games with the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and three more with the Windy City Bulls this season. In 30 minutes per game, with Windy City, averaged 17.3 points and 10.0 rebounds a night.

“Obviously he’s not Mason Plumlee, but I think he can screen, he can roll, he can run the floor, he can rebound and he’s a pretty good playmaker,” Malone said. “That’s the great thing about this. The silver lining is we’ll get a great opportunity to get an insight into Jarred Vanderbilt and see what he can bring to the table. And I’m excited for that opportunity, because he’s worked hard.”

Bol Bol, last summer’s secondround pick, isn’t yet a viable option for the Nuggets’ frontcourt. The team is maintaining a careful approach as he continues his rehab from foot surgery.

Malone also said that of their three injured starters, Gary Harris (adductor) was the closest to returning but added this caveat: “When I say closest, I don’t know how close that is.”

He said both Jamal Murray (ankle) and Paul Millsap (knee) are still “a ways off.”