Gary Harris took his first shots on the court Thursday afternoon since going down with a right groin strain in the first preseason game. The post-practice shooting was light, but poignant for a player inching his way to a return.

“That was the most I’ve done in a while,” Harris said. “Really haven’t tried anything (until today). Just tried to be cautious with it, make sure everything is cool. Don’t want to reaggravate it and make sure I’m feeling nothing when I’m doing things.”

As for his shooting session after practice, Harris said, “Right there I felt fine, didn’t feel anything. So as long as we keep doing that, don’t want to push it too much.”

Optimistic estimates on his return by Nuggets coach Michael Malone put Harris’ return right around the start of the regular season on Oct. 26. Harris wouldn’t rule it out, but wasn’t confirming that as a target date, either.

“I’m just going day by day, just trying to get better each day,” Harris said. “That’s two weeks down the road: We’ll see. I’m just trying to get better each day.”

Harris came into the preseason with a ton of momentum on the heels of a productive summer that had those around him raving about how much better he was on the court. Harris backed that up with a solid week of training camp in Omaha. But he was forced out of the Nuggets’ first preseason game against Toronto on Oct. 3 in Calgary after just 10 minutes of action.

“When I did it I felt it and I ended up coming back trying to push on it,” Harris said. “It just didn’t feel right and I was like ‘come get me (out of the game).’ They went back and checked on it. I didn’t think it would be anything too crazy, but I got the MRI and they said it was, and I was like ‘wow.’ I didn’t expect it. It is what it is. Just got to come back, make sure I come back healthy.”

While Harris has been out, the Nuggets have started Will Barton at shooting guard when he has played. Barton was rested in the team’s game against Minnesota in Lincoln, Neb., on Wednesday. It’s likely the team starts the season with Barton in the starting lineup if Harris isn’t back by then. Related Articles October 12, 2016 Kiszla: Why Broncos win championships, while Rockies, Nuggets and Avs make excuses

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Harris, who averaged 12.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 76 games last season, says he’s not privy to the entire plan ahead to get him back, and therefore can’t say when he’ll start running or when he’ll be full-go.

“I’m just doing whatever the training staff is saying,” he said.

In the meantime, the third-year veteran is getting a dose of NBA basketball from a sideline perspective.

“I just see what I see and try to help my teammates out, especially the young guys,” Harris said. “Still thinking the game even though I’m not playing. Everything happens for a reason. I’m just going to take the punches and roll with them, come back healthy and get out there. Still got a lot of season, it’s just preseason right now.”

Footnote. Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota was the first time this preseason that Malone said he saw his team regress. … Malone said he will not rest anyone else in exhibition games this preseason unless something forces his hand.