Game 2 of this Nuggets-Clippers saga felt like binge-watching a thriller, only to realize the plot twist was Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets tripping over their own shoelaces. Denver dropped a close one, 105-102, and it stung. Not because they played poorly overall, but because it was right there for the taking.

Nikola Jokic? Triple-double, but with some grease on the hands—7 turnovers that felt like momentum-snatchers every time the Nuggets started cooking. Jamal Murray? Looked solid until the clock started burning down in the fourth. And then dude was more “Where’s Waldo?” than Bubble Murray. Not a choke job, but certainly not a clutch takeover either. Still, let’s not act like this was a blowout.

The Nuggets were right there, one big bucket or one less turnover from flipping the script. It’s not panic time—yet. Now, heading into Game 3, the million-dollar question: are the stars good to go? Are Jokic and Murray locked in or limping?

The former—no worries. That sore right wrist that had everyone questioning if ‘The Joker’ was secretly a human or a robot? Didn’t stop him from dishing out a casual triple-double like it was a game of UNO. No red flags, no problems—Denver’s MVP is good to go for Game 3.

Jamal Murray? All clear. Despite the illness scare that had fans clutching their pearls before Game 2, he’s suiting up, no setbacks. Looks like the “sick Murray” experiment is over—he’s back to doing his thing, no hospital visits necessary. Now, let’s talk Michael Porter Jr.

After dropping a sweet 15 points and 15 rebounds in Game 2, MPJ took a bit of a tumble, spraining his left shoulder late in the fourth. He grimaced like he was just hit by a speeding bus and, naturally, missed those last-ditch shots. But don’t freak out yet—he practiced on Wednesday, and Coach David Adelman is “very optimistic” MPJ will suit up for Game 3 in L.A. Worst case?

We get a few more minutes of Peyton Watson running wild, and maybe even some surprise minutes from Russell Westbrook or Jaylen Pickett—because hey, who needs MPJ when you’ve got the depth of a basketball ocean, right?

And for the rest of the roster? All systems go. No drama, no injuries, just a squad ready to roll into Game 3. So yeah, Jokic, Murray, and hopefully Porter are all locked in for Game 3. But playing through pain and actually playing like themselves? Well, we’ll just have to see which version shows up when the game starts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, so hold on tight.

Denver Nuggets Depth Chart vs LA Clippers

Okay, folks, buckle up. Game 3 is almost here, and if you’re wondering who’s playing and who’s just taking a casual stroll through the lineup, here’s the breakdown of the Denver Nuggets’ depth chart. Spoiler alert: The big stars are ready to roll, and some of the others? Well, we’ll see how they handle the Clippers’ show.

Now, here’s where things get juicy: while the difference in overall team stats isn’t night and day, Denver’s been winning the hustle game, especially on the glass. The Nuggets are averaging 47.5 rebounds per game, good enough for top three in the playoffs, while the Clippers are pulling down just 38 per game, which puts them at 11th. That’s nearly 10 extra boards a night—and in the postseason, that’s the kind of gap that can swing entire games.

 As for the scoring, Denver’s offense is averaging 120.8 points a game, which is more than 12.6 points higher than the Clippers can handle (108.2 points allowed). This can be a siren going off for L.A.

So, yeah, maybe the Nuggets are banged up here and there, but if they can keep up their offensive firepower, Game 3 could be the shot of adrenaline they need to shift this series in their favor. If their stars show up, the Clippers won’t know what hit them—except maybe a couple of turnovers, but who’s counting?