The regular season has reached a point where the competition has intensified, with all greedy eyes focused on one thing– the path to the championship. Teams that were once struggling have now tightened up as we approach the second half of the season, and one of them being the Sacramento Kings. To climb higher in the Western Conference standings, they’ll need to face their rivals tonight, the formidable Denver Nuggets. However, that label will only hold true if Nikola Jokic plays with the squad. But will he? The franchise has finally provided an update on his status.

The Serbian center is the heart and soul of the team. Nikola Jokic’s second spot in the MVP rankings highlights the kind of season he’s having, with averages of 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists. Clearly, the big man is essential for the crucial Western Conference clash. Let’s dive into the details and find out about his status.

Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, and Co.’s availability against the Kings

Nikola Jokic has already missed six games this season, but tonight won’t be his seventh absence as the Joker will stand tall with the Nuggets in welcoming the Kings. With the 29-year-old in the lineup, the Nuggets have posted a 25-12 record, which drops to 2-4 without him.

The other star player, Russell Westbrook, is also in good health and will be playing. Despite a slow start to the season, he has now found his rhythm with the team, putting up 13 points per night.

While Jokic and Westbrook gets to play, there will be four other players unavailable for the game, according to Denver Stiffs. Both two-way players, Spencer Jones and Trey Alexander, will miss the matchup. The former won’t be available because of an injury on his right arm and Alexander as he’s serving with Denver’s G League affiliate, Grand Rapids.

Meanwhile, rookie DaRon Holmes has been out for this season after tearing his Achilles tendon last summer. The last name on the list is Vlatko Cancar, who has remained sidelined after knee surgery last month. He cannot be expected to return before eight weeks that too following his re-evaluation.

These absences are unlikely to affect the Nuggets, as they’ve been dealing with this situation for a while now. On the flip side, the Kings have no players listed on the injury report as of now, which is certainly a positive sign for them heading into the back-to-back game.

Nuggets vs Kings Game Preview

The two teams will meet for the second time this season, with the Nuggets securing a narrow win in their last matchup. However, things may not be the same this time around, as a lot has changed in Sacramento over the past month.

The biggest shift has been a change in head coach, which has had a major positive impact on the team. Once in the bottom half of the standings, the Kings have now climbed to the seventh spot in the Western Conference with a 23-20 record, having won nine of their last ten games.

However, facing the fourth-seeded Nuggets will still be a tough challenge. With a 27-16 record, Denver has been strong, losing only two games in their last ten. This game certainly promises to be a nail-biter, especially with Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis going head-to-head. But one advantage for the Nuggets is that the Kings may be a bit worn out after their recent clash with the Warriors. Get ready for an exciting game as the teams meet at Ball Arena tonight at 9:00 PM ET.