Are the Nuggets in for another championship this season? Well, don’t be surprised if Nikola Jokic leads Denver to another silverware this season. I mean, just look at their offensive rating this season, the Nuggets(119.6) are only behind the Cavs and Knicks. But Jokic alone will not be enough right? No doubt, the Nuggets managed to get better of the Suns in their last game, but the growing list of injuries is a major concern. The duo of Jokic and Jamal Murray was just too good for Devin Booker and Kevin Durant’s Suns, scoring a combined 56 points but before facing the Suns, the Nuggets met with another major injury scare.

Just three weeks back, HC Michael Malone backed Murray who was being blamed for the slow start this season. “I think the microscope on Jamal is a little intense. Everybody’s just gotta kind of let the kid breathe a little bit. He’s not perfect, and if you look [at] I think his overall stats, as of recently, he’s been very good for us, and he’s out there battling.” Now, the 27-year-old point guard is finally hitting his stride, but just as things start looking up, concerns over his knee have resurfaced. Right before the Suns game, Denver announced updates concerning their star players Murray and Russell Westbrook.

Ahead of the Suns game, the Nuggets released their injury report. It was announced that Murray is questionable and Westbrook is ruled out. Along with them, Watson is ruled out due to a knee problem, Porter is questionable due to a hamstring injury and Gordon is probable for the upcoming game due to a calf injury.

During the game against the Magic, Jamal Murray didn’t suit up due to inflammation in left knee. This has been a recurring issue for him and kept him sidelined from many games. The last game he appeared in was his game against the Pelicans where he played for 36 minutes, scoring 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists with a field goal of 71.4%.

On top of Murray’s potential absence, Russell Westbrook remains out for his fifth game and will be re-evaluated in a week. For the 48 games, he has averaged 13 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists, with a field goal of 47.7%. Jamal said of him, “Russ is a talker and he lets you know about stuff. He brings energy and effort in everything he does… Russ got the whole team going.”

What does Jamal Murray’s potential absence mean for the game?

Jamal Murray and Russell’s chemistry has been a success for the team and the two became a key part of their rotation. With Murray’s potential absence and Westbrook sidelined it looks like Jalen Pickett and Julian Strawther will be taking over guard duties. That’s a huge ask for these two young guys, especially since Pickett’s mostly been coming off the bench with limited playing time.

The upcoming game against the Suns is shaping up to be a crucial matchup. While Phoenix is coming off a victory over the Jazz, they’ve had a shaky season. Currently, the team ranks ninth in the Western Conference, with a 26-25 record. This clash holds importance for the Suns’ conference rankings.

The Suns and Nuggets have a long history, facing each other 194 times since 1976. The Suns have generally had the upper hand, winning 105 of those games compared to the Nuggets’ 89. Even lately, the Suns have been doing a bit better, winning three of their last five matchups, while the Nuggets have only won one.

However, there’s a catch: the Suns are way stronger when they play at home. This home-court advantage could be a major factor in their upcoming game. Tonight’s their chance to really shine and show everyone what they’re capable of. Let’s see if they can handle the pressure.