The playoffs are back, but for the Nuggets, it’s anything but steady ground. Two years removed from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Denver now finds itself walking into the postseason under a cloud of chaos—shaky chemistry, a coaching change, and a West that’s more unforgiving than ever. The only constant? Nikola Jokic.

Through organizational shakeups and on-court slippage, he’s been the through-line. Their anchor. And if the Nuggets are going anywhere this postseason, it’s because Jokic is on the deck, steady at the helm. Meanwhile, the Clippers arrive with the stability the Nuggets have lost. Kawhi’s back, Harden’s bought in, and their defense has quietly turned elite. No injuries. No distractions. Just a team that’s peaking at the right time—and hungry for payback.

Nuggets Injury Report: Jokic is In—but That’s Not the Whole Story

Let’s start here: Yes, Nikola Jokic is playing. The reigning MVP hasn’t just been available—he’s been brilliant! Since returning from a short absence, he’s averaged 29.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists (credit: ESPN). But this season has demanded more than even ‘The Joker’ might be able to give. Moreover, Jamal Murray’s return hasn’t exactly healed the wound.

His hamstring injury sidelined him for six games, and while he logged minutes in the final two games of the regular season, his explosiveness looked dulled. Denver needs the 2023 version of Murray—the one who averaged 26 points in the playoffs—to return. Anything less, and Jokic is on an island.

And then there’s the extra spice: Russell Westbrook gets a crack at his former team, while James Harden faces off against his old running mate. The subplot writes itself—but the spotlight might ultimately land elsewhere.

On the flip side, the Clippers are humming. Kawhi Leonard is healthy and in rhythm. James Harden has redefined his role, delivering efficient offense while orchestrating from the top. Ivica Zubac has leveled up defensively, becoming a real threat in the paint. And unlike Denver, L.A. enters with a clean injury report—and an identity built on stingy defense and veteran savvy.

Nikola Jokic’s Wild — But Who’s Holding the Cards?

And then there’s the elephant in the room. Days before the playoffs, the Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. The locker room didn’t see it coming. Malone wasn’t just the guy with the clipboard—he was Nikola Jokic’s translator, motivator, and the architect of the Nuggets’ cultural turnaround. Booth helped build the very roster they’re trying to defend a title with.

Now, assistant David Adelman—highly respected but never battle-tested as the lead—takes the reins. And he’ll go toe-to-toe with Tyronn Lue, a postseason tactician with a ring and receipts. Jokic? He’s still the same magician. One possession, he’s tossing blind skip passes, the next he’s orchestrating handoffs like a conductor. But his leadership is about to be tested in ways that probably even he hasn’t seen.

His respect for the matchup is clear: “He [Zubac] was kind of one-dimensional before. But now he can post up, he can pass from the pocket. He’s really evolving his game. He’s a really good defender… it’s going to be a fun matchup.”

Still, he’ll need help. Michael Porter Jr. has to be reliable, not just streaky. Aaron Gordon has to stay disciplined. And Christian Braun needs to look like a playoff vet, not a second-year role player.

Across the floor, the Clippers don’t just look confident—they look dangerous. They had the NBA’s best net rating over the final 10 games. Their offense flows. Their defense swarms. Harden has taken command of this team in a way few expected. Coach Adelman knows it, too.

“He reminds me, at his age now, of some of the great drop-back quarterbacks. A Peyton Manning, a Tom Brady… it’s almost like he’s in slow motion,” Coach Adelman noted. However, that doesn’t mean they are not taking their opponent seriously. Coach Lue admitted that preparing for the Serbian big man “is not an easy task.” 

In fact, he stated, “It’s not going to be something where we got to expect Zu (Ivica Zubac) every night to be able to guard him 1-on-1. We got to give him different looks to try to keep him off-balance. If you double-team him, he’s going to have 15 assists, if you stay at home he might have 50 (points).”

This series clearly has everything—narrative weight, stylistic tension, and bad blood going back to the 2020 bubble. That year, Denver erased a 3–1 series deficit to stun L.A. This time, the Clippers want revenge—and they just might be equipped to take it.

It’s Jokic vs. Zubac. It’s Harden vs. Murray. It’s Adelman vs. Lue. But more than anything? It’s chaos vs. control. And while Jokic is suiting up—Denver’s title hopes are still up in the air. After all, as AG rightly noted, the Nuggets are used to disrespect. “I mean, that’s how it was our championship run, too,” he said.

Anyway, stay tuned for the tip-off at 3:30 PM ET at the Ball Arena.