BREAKING: Denver Nuggets NBA Champion Injured In Game 5 Against Lakers

A Key Nuggets played was helped to the locker room.

Dec 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a NBA Wilson basketball on the Denver Nuggets / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE: Caldwell-Pope has returned to the game (h/t Underdog NBA).

Status alert: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) starts second half Monday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) April 30, 2024

UPDATE: Caldwell-Pope went back to the locker room (h/t Underdog NBA).

Status alert: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) headed to locker room again Monday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) April 30, 2024

UPDATE: Caldwell-Pope has returned to the game (h/t Underdog NBA).

Status alert: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) has returned to Monday's game.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) April 30, 2024

UPDATE: The Denver Nuggets have announced an update.

Via The Denver Nuggets: "Injury Update: KCP is questionable to return to tonight's game with a left ankle sprain."

Injury Update: KCP is questionable to return to tonight's game with a left ankle sprain.

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 30, 2024

On Monday evening, the Denver Nuggets are playing the Los Angeles Lakers (at home) for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.

During the first quarter, two-time NBA Champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had to be helped to the locker room.

He has played seven minutes and has one assist while shooting 0/2 from the field.

Via ClutchPoints: "Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has checked out of the game and was leaning on a Nuggets staffer to keep weight off his leg as he limped back to the locker room."

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has checked out of the game and was leaning on a Nuggets staffer to keep weight off his leg as he limped back to the locker room.

Hope he's alright 🙏pic.twitter.com/NpmB7HchvN

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 30, 2024

Caldwell-Pope has become one of the most important role players on the team, and finished the regular season with averages of 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 46.0% from the field and 40.6% from the three-point range in 76 games.

Apr 27, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles / Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets currently have a 3-1 lead over the Lakers, so a victory on Monday would conclude the series.

Most recently, the Nuggets lost Game 4 (in Los Angeles) by a score of 119-108.

Caldwell-Pope had 14 points, two rebounds, three assists and four steals while shooting 6/8 from the field and 2/3 from the three-point range in 40 minutes of playing time.

Apr 20, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) reacts / Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

If the Lakers win, Game 5 of the series will be on Thursday evening in Los Angeles.

The winner of the series will advance to the second and face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves.