It’s 5th in the East vs 3rd in the West tonight, as the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Denver Nuggets in a blockbuster clash. The 2023 winners are looking to repeat their recent success by putting their hopes in the hands of Nikola Jokić. The Serbian needs no introduction; his average of a triple-double a game this season has been historic enough.

As for the rest of the squad, well- it’s a reason they’re only 3rd despite the Joker’s magic. Their 9-game winning streak did help their cause to cement a playoff position. But their loss to the Lakers last week in embarrassing fashion was a bit of an eye-opener for the Denver team. What do their injuries look like ahead of the Bucks face-off?

Nuggets injury report and predicted lineup

It’s a little sad to see a team like the Nuggets relying on one player to bring them back to the summit. The rest of them are good, no doubt- but they fail to turn up for some of the games the fans might need. But despite the world’s weight on his shoulders, Jokic has had a stellar record when it comes to injuries this season. He’s played in 52 of the Denver team’s 58 games this season. And much to the relief of the fans, that number will change to 53 tonight as he’s set to play against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co.

The same can’t be said for PG Jamal Murray though. He’s been Jokic’s partner in crime this season, coughing up 21.1 points and 6.1 assists per game while shooting with a 47.5 FG%. The career-high 55-pointer in a 131-121 win over the Trail Blazers set the record for the most points in a game by a Canadian in the NBA. But due to a knee discomfort, he’s been listed as questionable for the Bucks game. But the injury list doesn’t end there for the Mile High City.

Forward Vlatko Čančar, center DaRon Holmes II, and Peyton Watson are confirmed to be out for the game, according to ESPN reports. Along with Murray, forward Aaron Gordon is also listed as questionable for the game with a persisting calf injury. That being said, this is how we expect the Nuggets to lineup for the game against the Bucks:

The Nugs are in fine form if you look at the last 10-15 games, but they’re facing a Bucks side who are coming into the game with 3 wins from their last 4. This will be the first time they meet this season, and the odds are for Denver to get the dub against Milwaukee. Let’s just hope the Bucks are not in the mood to feast, as I heard Giannis likes his nuggets dead and deep-fried.