Denver Nuggets small forward Will Barton suffered a right hip injury following a third-quarter layup Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. The Nuggets later said Barton wouldn’t return to the game.
Barton went down with 8:39 left in the third quarter and stayed on the ground for several minutes with teammates and coaches huddled around him. Team officials eventually carted him off.
Barton, beginning his seventh year in the league, finally earned a fulltime starting spot heading into this season after signing a four-year contract this summer. Barton’s energy and veteran voice are integral to the Nuggets, especially considering their young core.