The Dallas Mavericks are starting their three-game road trip and will head to the Ball Arena again tonight, for an NBA Cup matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Both teams are currently 1-1, and play-off-like intensity surrounds this one as the winner could improve their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

The two teams just played each other a couple of weeks ago, with Denver coming out on top with a close 122-120 win despite Kyrie Irving’s 43-point effort. Furthermore, Dallas is coming into this one, looking to make it four wins out of four after beating San Antonio, OKC, and New Orleans. However, they have lost their star player, Luka Doncic, which will be a huge blow.

Coach Jason Kidd said about Doncic’s injury, “Injuries are part of sport, and unfortunately he’s had a couple here early, and hopefully that means he won’t have any after this. ” The Slovenian had already missed out a few games earlier due to a knee problem and is now out with a wrist injury.

But they are not the only ones who could miss their star. The Nuggets have been playing without Nikola Jokic for the past three games, and there is still uncertainty if he will play tonight. Let’s dive into the injury reports to get the latest updates on player availability ahead of this blockbuster clash in Denver. We’ll also look into the squad depths to see how the two teams could line up against each other.

Nuggets vs Mavericks Injury Reports

Denver Nuggets Injury Report

The Nuggets could be without their superstar, Nikola Jokic, who has missed the previous three games due to personal reasons and is questionable for tonight. Denver hasn’t revealed what the reasons are but has announced that his family is safe and healthy. We’ll have to wait and see if the Joker suits up for tonight.

Vlatko Cancar has also been ruled out for tonight due to a knee injury. Aaron Gordon is next on the injury list; he is still recovering from a right calf strain and will miss multiple weeks of action. Lastly, DaRon Holmes II will also remain out for this one.

Dallas Mavericks Injury Report

According to ESPN, the Mavericks will miss Luka Doncic, who is suffering from a right wrist sprain and will remain out for at least a week. Apart from Doncic, Dallas only has one other player on their injury list, and that is Dante Exum. He underwent surgery on his right knee and is still out for the foreseeable future.

Depth Charts

These are the depth charts for the Mavericks vs Nuggets game and the possible starting lineups tonight.

Denver Nuggets Depth Chart

Dallas Mavericks Depth Chart

In conclusion, the Denver Nuggets look in good shape to edge out the Dallas Mavericks again in a closely contested battle. However, things could change if Jokic misses the game, as he could be the X-factor in tonight’s game. On the other hand, Donic’s absence leaves the offensive responsibility to Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson; nonetheless, they are more than capable of carrying the load. The game looks perfectly poised and will be a pretty close affair.