The New Orleans Pelicans will play the Denver Nuggets on the road on Thursday night. Two Western Conference teams with comfortable playoff berths meet in Denver in the last week of the regular season.
Updating the most recent Injury for the Pelicans and the Nuggets
The New Orleans Pelicans are a group that is always developing. New Orleans was currently in ninth place on Wednesday, which would ensure them a berth in the play-in round but might send them to the draft lottery with a couple losses.
New Orleans (38-38) is still trying to recover from Tuesday night’s crushing loss to Golden State.
In the last minutes of the game, the Pelicans built a 20-point lead but ended up losing by only 11. Due to this defeat, they were unable to tie Minnesota for sixth place.
The Pelicans might avoid playing a play-in game and advance directly to the playoffs’ first round if they go on a winning streak.
So, the Pelicans’ home game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night is as important as any other game this season.
New Orleans had its five-game winning run halted, but the team is still in the fight for the playoffs despite the loss of star player Zion Williamson for the season due to a hamstring injury. His next scheduled appointment is on April 5th.
Brandon Ingram will still be counted as having played in this game against the Nuggets.
Checking on the Pelicans’ injury situation is something we should do tonight.
- Zion Williamson (Hamstring): Expected to be out until at least Apr 7
- Jose Alvarado (Leg): Expected to be out until at least Apr 7
- E.J. Liddell (Knee): Expected to be out until at least Jul 1
LET’S MOVE ON TO THE NUGGETS INJURY REPORT.
For the first time in the franchise’s history, Denver’s (51-24) record has them atop the Western Conference.
Although the Nuggets are currently three games ahead of Memphis in the Western Conference, Denver would need to win 55 games if the Grizzlies were to win out and claim the division. The Nuggets nearly let the 76ers’ bench players come back and win the game.
Denver will have to work hard if they want to reach 55 victories. Four of its next six games will be on the road after Thursday night’s contest, and its two remaining home games will be against teams fighting for postseason positioning: the Warriors and the surprise Sacramento Kings.
The first step is to complete the season sweep of the Pelicans by winning their third consecutive game.
On January 24, Jokic converted a field goal with 16.9 seconds remaining, and the Nuggets’ defense forced three misses in the final 5.6 seconds, lifting Denver to a 99-98 victory at New Orleans.
In a win over the 76ers on Monday, Jokic recorded his 29th triple-double of the season and is practically averaging a triple-double per game (24.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 9.9 assists per game).
Jokic’s availability for Thursday’s game against the Pelicans is in question due to a calf issue.
In the first of a back-to-back set, Jokic is doubtful. It wouldn’t be out of the norm for Denver to rest Jokic in preparation for the postseason, despite the fact that the MVP frontrunner has played in both halves of the Nuggets’ previous two back-to-backs.
In Jokic’s absence, Ezekiel Nnaji and Thomas Bryant might see increased playing time, while Jamal Murray and Michael Porter would be responsible for handling the ball.
Jonas Valanciunas, who scored 17.4 points per game and grabbed 16.0 boards per game during the winning streak, will be tasked with guarding Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Jamal Murray is playing in tonight’s game for Denver (20.1 points, 6.2 assists).
Now, let’s take a look at the Nuggets’ injured players for tonight’s game.
- Jack White (Covid-19): Expected to be out until at least Mar 31
- Vlatko Cancar (Ankle): Game Time Decision
- Collin Gillespie (Lower Leg): Expected to be out until at least Mar 31
- Nikola Jokic (Calf): Game Time Decision
- Peyton Watson (Illness): Game Time Decision
