Are Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray Playing Tonight Against Pacers? Nuggets Injury Report Reviewed Ahead of Crucial Clash in Playoff Push

What more can Nikola Jokic do to stake his claim as MVP this season? He alone is responsible for 47.5% of the attacks in the 65 games he’s played this season. When he’s not there, it’s sad to see how disappointing the Nuggets are offensively. This is a team that won the NBA two seasons ago. If they’re to replicate that success, they have to win against the Pacers tonight no matter what.

Indiana has already qualified for the playoffs in the East. Meanwhile, the Nugs are just half a game away from 3rd and 5th place in the West. Jokic trumped up a then career-high 19 assists when they met last, when Denver won at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse 125-116. Will he and Jamal Murray be available tonight at the Ball Arena?

Nuggets injury report ahead of Pacers clash

A 29.8/12.9/10.2 game usually wins ‘Player of the Week.’ For Jokic, it’s just another Tuesday. It speaks volumes of the legacy he’ll leave behind. He missed a string of 6 games recently, in which their offensive vulnerabilities were exposed. That won’t be the case tonight – he’s fit to play and back in the fray.

“My thing is this: If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper … the guy that was averaging a triple-double, the guy that is top-three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one has ever done, he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, I think you guys are all bulls—ting,” said Malone on the MVP race. But we’ve seen the lack of support from the Nuggets despite his historic season.

Jamal Murray has arguably been his best support this season. Oscar-worthy performances for sure. His 21.6/2.8/6.0 stats are what have eased whatever pressure Jokic has had on his shoulders. But he’s missed the last 4 games due to a right hamstring injury. There’s a real chance his absence extends to a fifth straight game, as he’s deemed questionable tonight.

“I’m just gonna defend him for a second. Because he’s not 100% healthy,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after the win against the Mavericks. “I thought about shutting him down at halftime. Because I’m watching him out there, and I know that’s not the Jamal Murray that (I watch) when he’s playing healthy. That wasn’t him, if that makes sense.”

Nuggets predicted lineup against Pacers

Other than DaRon Holmes II’s season-ending injury, the Nuggets will be boasting an almost-fully fit squad heading into the game against Indiana tonight. That being said, this is their predicted lineup:

The only way this game should end for the Nuggets is in a dub. The Pacers are missing out on Pascal Siakam as well, he could be exactly what they need. But the rest of the squad has to step up for Nikola Jokic’s magic to get them over the line tonight.