Nikola Jokic Injury Report: Is Nuggets 2x MVP Hurt? Latest Update From Denver Ahead Of Road Game In Portland

As the Denver Nuggets get ready to face the Portland Trail Blazers on the 24th of March, the official injury report has made its arrival. Denver’s star player Nikola Jokic, along with Jamal Murray, is on the questionable list. The Nuggets who are on a two-game winning streak will look to extend that tomorrow. The Blazers, meanwhile, are on a 4-game skid.

Jokic had been dealing with a right arm contusion across the month. While the situation did not prove much of a hindrance, the latest injury update showing lower back pain and left hip inflammation might turn otherwise. The final word on whether he will suit up, however, will be announced considering how he responds in the pre-game warm-ups and workouts.

Murray has a left ankle sprain that put him on the questionable list. Aside from them, the Nuggets have three players who are ‘Out’ – Zeke Nnaji, Jalen Pickett, and Vlatko Čančar. Denver has extended its excellence, going neck-to-neck with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The ‘Mile High City’ could very well be the champions this year.

As for Jokic, despite the persistent back pain and a few minor injuries he sustained recently, the 2x MVP continues to put up dominant performances every time he is on the floor. The 6’11 Serbian has missed just two games in the season. And that’s one of the major reasons for the team’s success.

Nikola Jokic’s setback presents an opportunistic situation Blazers

For all the humorous stories about Nikola Jokic considering the NBA as a 9-5 job or about his love for horses exceeding that of basketball, the reigning champion sure puts up some serious numbers on his stat sheet. Right from his rookie years, the centre has never posted posted scores in single digits.

Read More: “We’re Not Quitters”: Nikola Jokic Glorifies Nuggets’ 22-Point Comeback to Sting Raptors

For the 2023-24 season, Jokic is averaging a team-high 26.1 points, 9.0 assists, and 12.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.1% from the field. The Nuggets’ last matchup with the Knicks saw Jokic with another impressive triple-double (30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists), his 22nd of the season and 127th of the career.

With that, the team also improved to 13-2 since the All-Star break. In the three past games that the Nuggets have gone against Portland, the former have come on top. Despite the fact that the Blazers have an all-time 102 wins against the Nuggets’ 96, the last time the ‘Beaver State’ finished on top was on October 24, 2022.

Tomorrow’s matchup could be a great occasion to change that for the Trail Blazers, especially if the team does decide to rest Nikola Jokic. What do you think are the odds of Portland winning without Jokic on the court? Let us know your thoughts below.