The 5-3 Denver Nuggets come into Monday night riding back-to-back wins, including a 114-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Mexico City on Saturday evening.
After reported issues leaving Mexico City following the game, however, Denver’s entire starting lineup (including superstar C Nikola Jokić) is questionable for Monday’s 8:30 p.m. ET matchup against the Rockets.
The three-time MVP is nursing a right elbow strain, though Denver could be using this opportunity to rest its core following less-than-ideal travel arrangements.
Below, we'll dive into the latest Nikola Jokić injury update, whether Jokić will play tonight, and how his status impacts Nuggets vs. Rockets picks on PrizePicks.
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Nikola Jokić Injury Update: Will Jokić Play vs. Rockets on Monday?
After starting the season 1-2, the Nuggets have won four of their last five games heading into a Western Conference heavyweight matchup against the 7-3 Rockets.
Jokić’s play has been pivotal in Denver’s recent stretch, with the 12th-year big man averaging a near triple-double through his first eight games.
The Serbian international played a team-high 36 minutes in Saturday’s 12-point win, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. He and PG Jamal Murray are the only Nuggets averaging 36+ minutes per night early this season.
Seeing the majority-veteran core listed as questionable seems to hint that their injury designations may not be as serious as they appear, though that doesn't guarantee they'll play Monday.
The game figures to be a tough, physical fixture against one of the league’s top defenses, and it's also the Nuggets’ second leg of a four-game road trip.
Let’s look at how Jokić's status, in particular, could shift Nuggets vs. Rockets projections for PrizePicks.
Nuggets Outlook and Player to Target If Jokić Is Out
Rather than forcing Jokić and the four other starters to play after poor travel that included a huge delay, head coach David Adelman could opt for a bench-heavy rotation on Monday evening.
Denver’s leading scorer off the bench, wing DeMar DeRozan, may also miss the contest. If all six players sit, that'd leave nearly 95 of the Nuggets’ 115.3 PPG unaccounted for.
Jokić’s 29.0% usage rate ranks in the top 15 in the leagued. Should the four other starters and DeRozan be out, no player in the reserve group is fit to absorb that kind of involvement, though that doesn't mean Denver can't be competitive.
Perhaps it's a heavy dose of veteran Tyus Jones, widely considered one of the few remaining traditional pass-first PGs in the NBA. The 30-year-old is averaging just under 3.0 points and 2.0 assists in only 11.1 MPG but has plenty of experience leading an offense.
If Jokić gets rested tonight, Jones and two-way PG Ryan Nembhard would project to absorb the ball-handling duties Jokić typically assumes as someone producing 9.1 assists per game, the second most in the league.
Veteran big Marvin Bagley III could start in Jokić’s place, with DaRon Holmes III and Zeke Nnaji also available to fill in. Jokić’s 10.1 rebounds per game lead the Nuggets and rank seventh among all NBA big men.
The Nuggets’ superstar could, of course, power through and play on Monday, even after the travel troubles he endured.
Jokic averaged 28.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.3 assists in four regular-season matchups against C Alperen Şengün and the Rockets last season. Here are Jokić’s best projections on PrizePicks for Monday’s game if he is able to play:
Nikola Jokić vs. Rockets: 25.5 Points | 11 Rebounds | 9 Assists | 45.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
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Removing a three-time MVP and his historic production from the lineup would be tough to overcome for a Nuggets squad facing several injuries to its core. Keep an eye on the official NBA injury report to see whether Jokić can give it a go against the Rockets tonight.
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Keep it locked in here with the Playbook for continued NBA injury updates, predictions, and news all the way through the 2027 NBA Finals.
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