The Portland Trail Blazers' chances of defeating the Denver Nuggets on Friday have improved dramatically.
The Nuggets will be without superstar center Nikola Jokić. Star guard Jamal Murray is questionable.
Both missed Wednesday’s 120-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jokić is out with a left ankle impingement. He missed Denver’s previous two games with an elbow injury. Murray is dealing with a right ankle sprain.
The Blazers (31-39) will enter Friday just two games behind Dallas (33-37) and Phoenix (33-37), tied for 10th in the Western Conference.
The Blazers are 1-2 against Denver (44-26) this season. They defeated the Nuggets 126-124 at home on Dec. 19. Denver won 146-117 at home on Feb. 10 and two nights later won 132-121 at home on Feb. 12.
Jokic averaged 33.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists in the three meetings.
Jokic’s absence will relieve some pressure from rookie center Donovan Clingan, who has been starting in place of Deandre Ayton.
Backup center Robert Williams III will miss the rest of the regular season.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)