Head coach Mike Malone said Thursday that Cancar (knee) is out for the foreseeable future, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports.
Cancar suffered a left knee sprain during Tuesday's game versus the Grizzlies and had already missed all of the 2023-24 season after suffering an ACL tear of the same knee. While Cancar is without an official timetable for a return, the 27-year-old forward looks to be headed for an extended absence.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Out for remainder of game
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Cancar has been ruled out for the remainder of Tuesday's game against Memphis due to a left knee sprain, Katy Winge of Altitude Sports reports. He'll finish with five points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt) and four rebounds across 11 minutes.
Cancar left the game at the 3:47 mark of the second quarter after landing awkwardly on his left leg following a dunk. The Nuggets are labeling his knee injury as a sprain, but the forward will likely undergo further testing to make sure there is no structural damage to his knee.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Heads to locker room Tuesday
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Cancar (knee) went back to the locker room with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter of Tuesday's game against Memphis, Ryan Blackburn of MileHighSports.com reports.
Cancar threw down a dunk but landed awkwardly on his left leg and grabbed at his left knee. The forward tore his ACL in the same knee last year, and it is unlikely he will return to the game. If Cancar remains out, he will finish with five points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt) and four rebounds across 11 minutes.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Available Sunday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is listed as available for Sunday's game against the Grizzlies.
Cancar is available to suit up while dealing with a lingering ankle sprain. The 27-year-old forward suited up for the first time since the regular-season opener in Friday's loss to Indiana, during which he posted two points, two rebounds and one block across eight minutes.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Probable to play Sunday
Rotowire
Cancar is probable for Sunday's game against the Grizzlies due to a right ankle sprain.
Cancar played two minutes in the loss to the Pelicans on Friday, and while he's not fully recovered from the ankle sprain that caused him to miss six games, the probable tag suggests he should be able to suit up. With Aaron Gordon (calf) and Nikola Jokic (personal) sidelined, there are theoretically more minutes available for Cancar.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Returning Friday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is available for Friday's game against the Pelicans.
Cancar had missed the Nuggets' last six games due to a sprained ankle, but he'll be available off the bench Friday. Though Cancar doesn't project to hold a major role in the rotation for the balance of the season, he could see healthy minutes off the bench Friday with Nikola Jokic (personal) away from the team and with Aaron Gordon (calf) weeks away from a return.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Ruled questionable for Friday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Pelicans.
Cancar has missed the Nuggets' last six games with a sprained right ankle, but he could be ready to return to action Friday. With Aaron Gordon (ankle) out, Peyton Watson has settled into a starting role at power forward, but Cancar could have an opportunity to enter the rotation as Watson's backup.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Returns to practice
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Cancar (ankle) participated in the live portions of practice Thursday, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports.
Cancar is nearing a return to action after missing Denver's last six contests with a sprained right ankle. However, Cancar is unlikely to receive significant playing time even when available.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Another absence coming
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against Dallas.
Cancar will miss a sixth straight game due to the sprained right ankle and is without a clear timeline for a return. He hadn't been included in head coach Michael Malone's rotation before he suffered the injury.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Out again Wednesday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game versus Oklahoma City.
Cancar sprained his right ankle last week and will miss a fourth straight contest to begin November. The forward hadn't been a regular part of the Denver rotation prior to suffering the injury.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Unlikely to play Wednesday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Wednesday's game versus the Thunder.
Cancar is expected to miss his seventh straight contest Wednesday while dealing with a sprained right ankle. However, his anticipated absence won't significantly affect Denver's rotation.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Unlikely to play Monday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is doubtful for Monday's game against the Raptors.
Cancar's expected absence shouldn't impact Denver's rotation. He's made only one appearance this season, playing two minutes during the season-opening loss to Oklahoma City.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Likely out Saturday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game versus the Jazz.
Cancar will likely miss his fifth straight contest Saturday while dealing with a sprained right ankle. However, Cancar is unlikely to receive significant playing time even when available.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Out Friday
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Timberwolves.
Cancar hasn't been part of Denver's regular rotation, so his absence shouldn't impact much. His next chance to suit up will come Saturday versus Utah.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Downgraded to questionable
Rotowire
Cancar (ankle) was downgraded to questionable for Friday's matchup versus the Timberwolves.
Cancar is dealing with a right ankle sprain, though he hasn't played since the regular-season opener due to his lack of a role in the rotation. The forward was originally deemed probable for Friday, and his questionable tag does not bode well for his status.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: In starting five Sunday
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Cancar will step into the starting lineup for Sunday's preseason matchup versus the Celtics in Abu Dhabi, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports.
Cancar will replace Aaron Gordon, who is dealing with a minor undisclosed injury, in the starting five. Cancar is expected to compete for second-unit minutes once again this season, and if Peyton Watson (hamstring) is not fully healthy by the regular season, Cancar will likely see more playing time -- especially if he can impress during the preseason.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Staying in Denver
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Cancar has reached an agreement to stay with the Nuggets for the 2024-25 season, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports.
Cancar played with Slovenia during the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers, and he looked healthy after undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury that caused him to miss the entire 2023-24 campaign. In his last healthy season with the Nuggets in 2022-23, Cancar appeared in 60 regular-season games and averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.8 minutes. He should add depth to the Nuggets' frontcourt, though he probably won't be relevant in most fantasy formats.
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Vlatko Cancar: Back in action for Slovenia
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Cancar (knee) tallied 12 points (3-7 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), four rebounds and one block across 22 minutes Tuesday for the Slovenian national team in a 108-92 loss to Croatia in a FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Cancar missed the entirety of the 2023-24 season after undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. The Nuggets declined his team option ahead of the 2024-25 season, but they haven't ruled out re-signing the 27-year-old wing. Cancar's ability to play for Slovenia in the qualifying tournament confirms that he's healthy again, and a strong showing this summer could improve his outlook in free agency. In his last healthy season with the Nuggets in 2022-23, Cancar appeared in 60 regular-season games and averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.8 minutes.
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Vlatko Cancar: Bound for free agency
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The Nuggets declined Cancar's (knee) $2.35 million team option for the 2024-25 season Sunday, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports.
Cancar will thus be eligible to begin negotiating with teams as an unrestricted free agent beginning July 30. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2023-24 season after undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but Cancar is expected to return to game action for the Slovenian national team in a 2024 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament in July. According to Durando, the Nuggets haven't closed the door on re-signing Cancar on a minimum contract. During his last healthy season with Denver in 2022-23, Cancar appeared in 60 games and averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.8 minutes.
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Nuggets' Vlatko Cancar: Diagnosed with ACL tear
Rotowire
Cancar was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee after suffering the injury while playing for the Slovenian national team Friday in an exhibition against Greece, Mike Singer of The Denver Post reports.
A timeline for Cancar's return likely won't be established until he undergoes surgery, but the 26-year-old forward looks poised to miss most, if not all, of the 2023-24 season. With averages of 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game over 60 appearances in 2022-23, Cancar wasn't a vital part of the Denver rotation last season, but his expected absence for the majority of the upcoming campaign could result in rookies Hunter Tyson and Julian Strawther getting more playing time than expected early on.
