The Denver Nuggets are facing the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at the Ball Arena. It will be a home game for the Nuggets, who are leading the Western Conference right now. They have won 51 games and lost just 24. The Colorado-based team has already clinched a playoff spot and is hoping for a strong finish to the season right now.
The Nuggets are coming off a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, and have won the last 4 games as well. The Pelicans, on the other hand, lost their last game against the Golden State Warriors despite putting up a good fight in the first half of the game. They could do the same tonight, but it all depends on whether one man plays.
Nikola Jokic is questionable for the Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans game tonight
Nikola Jokic has surely been the Nuggets’ best player in recent years. The Serbian has been bagging triple-doubles with ease and has made a strong case for the 2022-23 NBA MVP award. He’s in a close fight against the Sixers’ Joel Embiid, who has been phenomenal this year as well. The Joker has been quite fortunate to not suffer any major injury this year, but it looks like he might be facing some trouble right now.
Injury Report for tomorrow’s game vs. the Pelicans ⬇️#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/6QkrsU3HCs
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 29, 2023
Jokic is questionable to face the Pelicans tonight. The Nuggets’ injury report mentions that he is dealing with right calf tightness. Apart from Jokic, Vlatko Cancar, and Peyton Watson are also questionable. Collin Gillespie and Jack White will miss the game.
Denver Nuggets injury report
- Nikola Jokic (questionable)
- Vlatko Čančar (questionable)
- Peyton Watson (questionable)
- Collin Gillespie (out)
- Jack White (out)
Denver Nuggets expected roster
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Aaron Gordon
- Jamal Murray
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Jeff Green
New Orleans Pelicans injury report
- Zion Williamson (out)
- E.J. Liddell (out)
- Jose Alvarado (out)
New Orleans Pelicans expected roster
- Brandon Ingram
- Trey Murphy III
- Jonas Valančiūnas
- CJ McCollum
- Herb Jones
Can the Pelicans take advantage of Nikola Jokic’s absence and snap the Nuggets’ streak?
The Nuggets have been on sensational form and Jokic’s absence could be a huge blow. The Pelicans proved what they could do against a big team against the Warriors. However, the Nuggets are closely knit together defensively and are far more consistent than the defending champs.
Jokic’s absence is something the Pelicans might be looking forward to. Even without the Joker, the Nuggets are strong, but just without his presence in the paint. The Nuggets won the game 122-113 the last time these two sides faced in January, and Jokic was the man of the night with yet another triple-double. Even if he doesn’t feature tonight, we can predict Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to step up tonight.
