Nuggets’ Austin Rivers, Bones Hyland Enter Protocol

Nuggets guards Austin Rivers and Bones Hyland have entered the NBA’s health ad safety protocol and will miss an undetermined amount of time, as relayed by Mike Singer of the Denver Post.

Rivers, 29, has been a regular in reserve again this season, though he is averaging a career-low 3.9 points in 18 games.

Hyland, 21, was the Nuggets’ first-round pick (No. 26 overall) and is averaging 8.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 15 games.

The Nuggets, of course, were already missing guard Jamal Murray (knee) and forward Michael Porter Jr. (back), as Murray has yet to play this season and Porter is expected to be out for the year.

Perhaps no team is as impacted by injuries as the Nuggets, who have been a regular Western Conference contender over the past few seasons, behind reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.

With a full roster, there’s little room for president of basketball operations Tim Connelly to maneuver without making a trade.