The Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs meet Sunday at Frost Bank Center with the top end of the Western Conference still shaping the backdrop. Denver is 53-28 and third in the West, while San Antonio is 62-19 and second.
Denver’s injury report is the bigger story because of its volume and the status of Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP is questionable with right wrist injury management, and the Nuggets are also without Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr., Cameron Johnson, Spencer Jones, Jamal Murray, and Peyton Watson.
Braun is out with left ankle injury management and a right hip flexor strain, Gordon is out with right hamstring injury management, and Murray is sidelined by a right shoulder impingement. Hardaway Jr. is dealing with left knee soreness, Cameron Johnson with right ankle injury management, Spencer Jones with a right hamstring strain, and Watson with a right hamstring strain.
That leaves Denver far thinner than usual around Jokic, who has averaged 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists this season. If he is limited or unavailable, the Nuggets lose the hub of their offense and the player who normally makes their short rotation workable.
San Antonio also has meaningful availability questions, even if the Spurs’ report is shorter. Stephon Castle is questionable with left foot soreness, Devin Vassell is questionable with right ribcage soreness, and Victor Wembanyama is questionable with left ribcage soreness.
The Spurs also list David Jones Garcia as out with a right foot surgery recovery, Luke Kornet out with right shoulder soreness, and Emanuel Miller out on a G League two-way assignment. Wembanyama’s status matters most because he is averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks.
The matchup has already been tight this season, with Denver holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The Nuggets won the last two meetings, including a 136-134 overtime win on April 4, while the Spurs opened the season series with a 139-136 win on Nov. 28.
Recent form gives both teams a lift. Denver beat Oklahoma City 127-107 and Memphis 136-119 in its last two games, while San Antonio handled Dallas 139-120 after that narrow overtime loss to the Nuggets.
Tipoff is set for 10:00 PM ET, and the final injury decisions could shape whether this becomes a star-driven battle or a test of depth on both sides.
