On April 9th, the Denver Nuggets are dealing with some injury concerns heading into their final regular season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their top stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are both listed as questionable. Jokic with right wrist injury management and Murray with a right shoulder impingement. Aaron Gordon joins them as questionable too, thanks to right hamstring management, while Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones are out with hamstring issues.
On top of that, the Nuggets are riding a hot 10-game win streak, the best in the league right now. They sit 1.5 games ahead of the LA Lakers for that number 3 spot in the West, with seating almost locked in before playoffs start next weekend. Fans are buzzing about the low stakes here. The Thunder have already clinched the top seed and are resting 10 players, including their whole starting.
Five in key rotation, guys. It means Denver might play it safe too, keeping their big three fresh after a grueling season. Statuses could shift before tip-off, but these look like minor tweaks, nothing long-term. Expect updates closer to game time, as the Nuggets weigh extending that streak against a depleted Thunder Squad, or prioritizing playoff legs.
Whatever happens at 7pm Mountain Time in Ball Arena, it sets the tone for Denver's postseason run healthy stars, could make them unstoppable. Come playoff time. This has been NBA News Today, powered by AI.