The Denver Nuggets hit the dusty trail for a quick one-game road trip.
But first, the injury report for Saturday's game against the Trail Blazers.
INJURY REPORT
Denver:
Vlatko Čančar — OUT (Left Knee Surgery)
Nikola Jokić — QUESTIONABLE (Low Back Pain/Left Hip Inflammation)
Jamal Murray — QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Sprain)
Zeke Nnaji — OUT (Right Adductor Tendinosis)
Jalen Pickett — OUT (Personal Reasons)
The Nuggets face the Portland Trail Blazers for the fourth and final time this season. Denver is a perfect 3-0 against the Blazers, who are currently on a 5-game winning streak. It hasn't been an easy year for Portland, owners of the fifth-worst record in the entire NBA at 19-51.
The Blazers have yet to submit their injury report at the time of this writing, but they'll likely be without Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe, two starters who have been dealing with long-term injuries (a hamstring strain and abdominal surgery, respectively). Former Sixth Man of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, (elbow) has also been on Portland's injury reserve for quite some time.
The Nuggets could be shorthanded, as well. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić are listed as questionable and may not play, meaning that backup point guard, Reggie Jackson, and backup center, DeAndre Jordan, could get elevated to starting roles. Perhaps Denver can find lighting in a bottle again with Jordan and Jackson, who helped author one of the team's most exciting wins of the season in Los Angeles against the Clippers in November.
If Murray and Jokić do end up missing Saturday's contest, the scoring onus could also fall on Michael Porter Jr., who's been absolutely spectacular since the All-Star break. Porter Jr.'s recorded three 30-point outings in Denver's 15 games since the break, helping his squad go a ridiculous 13-2 in that stretch.
The Nuggets are just half a game out of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings.
TUNE-IN: Saturday 8:00 p.m. MT, Altitude TV, and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM