Last week we were deprived of a LeBron James and Nikola Jokic matchup. Reason? LeBron was out with a groin injury. And now we’ll be deprived of Stephen Curry vs the ‘Joker’ matchup.

The Denver Nuggets are already struggling, and now they might have to face a red-hot Golden State Warriors squad. What’s worse is they’ll be without their two biggest stars. Jokic and Jamal Murray have been ruled out for this match. After being listed as questionable with a right elbow contusion and a left ankle impingement, the Nuggets officially ruled him out against the Warriors owing to elbow/ankle injury.

This comes in after Head Coach Michael Malone didn’t sound too confident about their chances of playing. “It’ll be confirmed soon,” he said before the game, but admitted he doesn’t think either will suit up. The exact details about his injury aren’t clear yet.

But the 7x All-Star was bruised up after a rough loss to the Thunder on 9th March. And Coach Malone floated the idea of sitting him out for the rematch against the OKC just a day later.

Jokic didn’t even let him finish the thought. Without hesitation, he shut it down with a defiant, “Hell, no!”. For weeks, the three-time MVP has been grinding through pain, trying to keep Denver afloat. But at some point, even the toughest players need a break. The wear and tear has become too much, and now the Nuggets have to figure out how to compete without their leader in a crucial Western Conference matchup.

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors have been surging at the perfect time. Sitting at 39-28, they’ve transformed since the All-Star break and are making a serious push for a guaranteed playoff spot. With a seven-game win streak now, their resurgence has put them in the mix for home-court advantage in the first round, a scenario that felt impossible just a few months ago.

Nikola Jokic comments give the Warriors a boost for a playoffs spot

Securing a higher playoff seed won’t come easy for Golden State. The Timberwolves, Lakers, and Grizzlies are all piling up wins, making every game a must-win battle. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have hit a rough patch, dropping four of their last eight. Even with Nikola Jokić playing at an MVP level, Denver is losing ground. Houston’s sudden surge has put the Nuggets’ grip on the two-seed in serious jeopardy.

Jokić didn’t hold back after a crushing 126-123 loss to the Wizards. “We cannot have that comfort zone that we’re just going into the playoffs,” he admitted. “I think we’re lucky that we’re third in the [West] standings. We are not playing good.” His frustration is justified—Denver has posted a -2.8 net rating in their last ten games, ranking among the league’s worst.

For the Warriors, this is the perfect chance to strike. They’ve been rolling, leading the NBA with an 11.4 net rating over their last ten games. With Jokic now out along with Murray for Monday’s matchup due to lingering elbow and ankle issues, Denver’s struggles could get even worse.

Golden State’s season looked doomed a few months ago, but suddenly, home-court advantage in the first round isn’t out of reach. If they capitalize against the Nuggets, their push up the standings becomes even more realistic. Monday’s game isn’t just another matchup—it’s a golden opportunity.