“We expect them to come out with great energy and we need to exceed it” Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone knew during the 2023 NBA Finals that the Miami Heat are not a team to be taken lightly. Thanks to this belief, not only were Nikola Jokic and Co. able to clinch the championship title away from them, but the team today boasts an impressive 9-1 record against their Eastern Conference rival. Therefore, there will be no better time than the upcoming regular season matchup for the Denver Nuggets to add on to their win streak. Unfortunately, the squad will have to compete without a few of their key players.

According to the Nuggets Injury Report highlighted by ESPN, Jamal Murray is out. No change has been provided to the out status of Vlatko Cancar, either. Aaron Gordon aggravated a right calf strain and won’t undergo revaluation for a couple more weeks. The team has yet to play DaRon Holmes II, their recent draft pick, in a regular season game. However, as he remains listed as out, he’ll miss the upcoming matchup against the Heat as well.

Jamal Murray has been out of the lineup since last week after sustaining a concussion during a game against the Timberwolves, following a collision with Julius Randle. He exited with 9:28 left in the third quarter and hasn’t appeared in any of the three games since. Following the matchup against the Jazz, head coach Michael Malone shared that Murray was able to do some cardio, but the Nuggets remain cautious about his return.

The team has managed well without him, winning all three games in his absence. However, with Murray being a primary scorer, his continued absence could soon impact the team’s performance.

Vlatko Cancar, who started in the season opener, was sidelined shortly after with an ankle injury. While a starting lineup presence, Cancar’s absence is expected to have a minimal effect on the Nuggets overall.

For the Miami Heat, Jamie Jaquez Jr is listed as day-to-day and Kevin Love is out. Jaquez reportedly developed gastroenteritis (stomach) recently, but the absence of a physical injury makes him a game-time decision. According to Rotowire, Love hasn’t made his season debut yet due to ‘personal reasons’. However, we can expect the Miami Heat to have him return during the Minnesota Timberwolves game. In light of this update, both teams will be going into the matchup by making a few changes to the starting lineup.

How will the starting lineup and depth chart for the Nuggets-Heat clash look like?

One key factor in the Nuggets’ strong performance without Jamal Murray has been the standout play of backup point guard Russell Westbrook. With increased minutes in Murray’s absence, Westbrook has stepped up to fill the gap efficiently. Although he scored just 5 points against the Utah Jazz, he boosted his output to 21 and 29 points in games against the Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively. This 2017 MVP has proven he can effectively handle the point guard role when needed.

Meanwhile, Aaron Gordon’s absence has opened up more playing time for Peyton Watson, who saw increased minutes against OKC—a trend that may continue in the upcoming matchup against the Heat. With these adjustments in mind, the Denver Nuggets’ starting lineup is expected to look something like this:

Similarly, the updates for the Miami Heat suggest that the franchise will have a starting lineup that looks something like this:

The Nuggets or the Heat? Who will you be rooting for during the upcoming matchup? Let us know in the comments down below.