DeMar DeRozan Cleared to Play Saturday After Back Issue

DeMar DeRozan’s back has officially survived the week. The veteran forward is cleared and available to play this Saturday, which is great news for anyone who enjoys watching a nightly masterclass in contested midrange jumpers.

Underdog NBA confirmed the green light, meaning fantasy managers can safely plug him back into their active rosters. It also means sportsbooks will be scrambling to adjust those Denver Nuggets team totals before the opening tip.

"Underdog NBA tweeted: 'DeMar DeRozan (back) available to play Saturday.'"

Denver is sitting at 4-3 right now, hovering at ninth in a Western Conference that is already turning into a crowded mess. With teams like the Los Angeles Lakers jumping out to an 8-2 start, the Nuggets cannot afford to drop winnable games in November just because they are short-handed.

DeRozan is currently grinding through his 18th NBA season. He has logged a massive 1,270 regular-season games in his career. At this stage of a basketball lifespan, a vague back injury could mean anything from taking a hard foul in the paint to sleeping on a hotel mattress that lacked proper lumbar support.

The Nuggets are scheduled to face the Indiana Pacers at 5:00 PM ET. Having a healthy DeRozan on the wing gives Denver the offensive stability they desperately need to keep the scoreboard moving.

Expect DeRozan to slide right back into his usual heavy workload. If his back is truly good to go, the Pacers are about to spend their Saturday evening getting pump-faked into the front row.