The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder face a high-stakes matchup Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center, with several key players on both sides listed on the injury report.
Denver enters the game after a 103-84 win over Boston, while Oklahoma City looks to bounce back following a 124-116 loss at Detroit.
Denver’s roster will be without Tamar Bates (left foot, surgery), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring, strain), and Peyton Watson (right hamstring, strain). Curtis Jones remains sidelined on his two-way assignment. Spencer Jones (right shoulder), Jamal Murray (illness), and Jalen Pickett (right knee soreness) are all questionable. Julian Strawther (left great toe sprain) is probable.
The Thunder will be missing Branden Carlson (low back, strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL, surgical recovery), and Jalen Williams (right hamstring, strain).
Murray’s status is crucial for Denver, as the All-Star guard is averaging 25.1 points and 7.4 assists per game. Nikola Jokic, also an All-Star, has posted 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game this season. If Murray is limited, Denver could rely on Cameron Johnson (11.7 points per game) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (13.9 points per game) for scoring support.
For Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the charge with 31.8 points per game. Holmgren contributes 17.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest. Jalen Williams, averaging 17.5 points, is out, which could impact the Thunder’s secondary scoring. Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace are expected to step up in their absence.
Denver has gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, while Oklahoma City is 6-4. The Nuggets hold a 37-22 record, sitting fourth in the Western Conference, whereas the Thunder lead the conference at 45-15. This matchup has playoff implications, as both teams fight for seeding in the tightly contested West.
The previous encounter this season saw Oklahoma City win 121-111 at Denver.
