Ahead of a crucial game against the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back, the Denver Nuggets will be without Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
Jokic, according to Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette, injured his right elbow during warmups ahead of tonight’s game.
The Nuggets just announced Aaron Gordon (right calf injury management) and Nikola Jokic (right elbow inflammation) are out today. Jokic hurt his elbow in warmups, I’m told.
— Vinny Benedetto (@VBenedetto) January 16, 2025
We will get more information after the game from head coach Michael Malone.
As for Gordon, he was already questionable due to right calf injury management heading into tonight’s game. Malone said pregame that the Nuggets would monitor Gordon’s status ahead of the game, and him not playing on the second night of a back-to-back isn’t surprising.
Michael Malone on Aaron Gordon’s “questionable” status:
“We’ll see how it’s feeling on a back-to-back, and knowing that we leave tomorrow morning to go to Miami.”Malone complemented Gordon for how he’s handled the bench role too.
“He’s always been such a selfless player since…
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) January 16, 2025