The Denver Nuggets have a much-needed one-game cushion after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107 on Wednesday night, putting them in the lead for the one-seed in the Western Conference. But for the Nuggets, nothing is set in stone just yet. In the event that they are unsuccessful, they might drop as low as the third seed.
Denver, though, has a strong schedule to close the season. On Friday night, they play the San Antonio Spurs, and on Sunday, they go to the Memphis Grizzlies to close off the season. Therefore, there’s a chance that the Nuggets choose to bench their best players because they believe they can defeat two of the poorest teams in the conference.
Fans will now be curious to see if Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic will suit up against the Spurs.
When the Nuggets last faced the Spurs, fans were treated to an incredible showdown between the man who will soon be vying for the title of best center in the NBA, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama. Fortunately, it is highly probable that a rematch between the two will rank among the Friday night slate’s most thrilling contests.
Jokic is rated as “probable” to play despite having inflammation in his left hip, per the most recent injury report.
With 77 of the 80 games that the Nuggets have played so far this season, Nikola Jokic has proven to be a reliable player, and it doesn’t seem like the likely 2024 MVP will miss any time soon.
When the Nuggets and Spurs last faced off, Jokic was quite the showman. Even though Victor Wembanyama blocked his shot four times, the Nuggets star ultimately prevailed. With his 42 points on 18-32 shooting, he demonstrated to the young rookie for the Spurs that he still owns the league and will for the foreseeable future.
If Nikola Jokic decides to suit up, it is unknown how much work he will be doing on Friday night. However, the Nuggets’ main objective will undoubtedly be finishing up early so that their core players can receive some much-needed rest.
Due to an ankle injury, Jamal Murray missed seven games in late March and early April. When the Nuggets’ star guard made his comeback on April 6, it was quite the sight to behold. Murray has averaging 21.3 points per game on 57 percent shooting over his last three games, so it’s been business as usual since then.
Murray, who is rated as “probable” on the injury report despite minor irritation on his right knee, is expected to continue his strong play against the Spurs defense, which is presently ranked 22nd in the league.
The 27-year-old guard’s last game against the Spurs was not the best of shooting nights. Despite shooting 6-16 for 15 points, he packed the stat sheet with 8 assists and 10 rebounds.
In the unlikely event that Jamal Murray is sidelined for the Nuggets’ next game, Reggie Jackson is expected to start and be a key contributor to his team’s offensive production.
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