The Denver Nuggets will be looking to bounce back from a big 20-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday as they host a Los Angeles Lakers team on Friday night at Ball Arena that is on a three-game skid of their own.
These two teams, along with the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets, have been jockeying for position behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the upper echelon of the Western Conference standings.
Going into Friday, the Nuggets are tied with the Grizzlies at 42-24, though they sit in third behind Memphis due to the division record tiebreaker (they have split the season series 1-1). That head-to-head tiebreaker could come into play between Denver and the Lakers, who sit just one game back at 40-24.
That added implication makes this Nuggets-Lakers showdown that much more crucial, as they have split the first two games of the four-game season series. That means the availability of Denver's perennial MVP candidate, Nikola Jokic, is as important as ever.
The Big Cevapi continues to deal with a left ankle issue, which is being labelled as an "impingement" on the NBA's official injury report for March 14. He's now dealing with a right elbow contusion as well.
Despite adding another ailment to his docket, Jokic is still listed as probable for Friday night's clash with the Lakers. He has not missed a game since January 15, despite hitting the injury report before each of the last six straight games.
Injury Report ahead of tomorrow's game against the Lakers:
PROBABLE:
Nikola Jokić (Right Elbow Contusion/Left Ankle Impingement)
Jamal Murray (Left Knee Inflammation)
Christian Braun (Left Foot Inflammation)
Zeke Nnaji (Left Ankle Sprain)
QUESTIONABLE:
Aaron Gordon… pic.twitter.com/64Heu3x3ae
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 13, 2025
Three other impact players on Denver's injury report-Jamal Murray (knee), Zeke Nnaji (ankle), and Christian Braun (foot)-are also likely to play and are listed as probable.
The only one in danger of missing out is Aaron Gordon. The forward is listed as questionable with right calf management as well as a left ankle sprain.
Gordon has missed the last two games and five of the last seven. The Nuggets are 17-11 this year without the 11-year veteran.
The first two meetings between these teams this season were blowouts.
The Nuggets beat the Lakers by 25 in L.A. back in November, but the Lakers got their revenge in February, winning by 23 in Denver.
With the Nuggets at home again on Friday night, they will hope to end this rivalry's trend of road team victories.
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This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM.