Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray officially available vs. Blazers

Currently 33-16 on the season, the Denver Nuggets are once again one of the top teams in the Western Conference. However, they enter Friday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers after losing 105-100 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a tough loss without superstar big man Nikola Jokic, who missed this game due to back soreness, the defending NBA champions got some more concerning news when Jokic and Jamal Murray both landed on the injury report ahead of their game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Both Jokic and Murray were initially listed on the Nuggets' injury report for Friday's game. Whereas the Serbian big man once again found himself listed as questionable due to his lower back pain, Denver's star guard was listed as probable with a left knee contusion.

Fortunately, minutes prior to tip-off, the Nuggets announced that both Jokic and Murray are available to play.

Final Injury report heading into tonight's game:

Available:
– Peyton Watson (Left Knee Contusion)
– Jamal Murray (Left Knee Contusion)
– Nikola Jokić (Low Back Pain)
– Julian Strawther (Right Knee Contusion/Sprain)

Out:
Vlatko Čančar (Left Knee Surgery) pic.twitter.com/2GPSNxij0u

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 3, 2024

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray's health statuses

In the loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night, Murray recorded 16 points and four assists in 39 total minutes. These 16 points were his second-lowest scoring output in the month of January.

Although Jokic is not one to miss games due to minor injuries and bruises, the Nuggets are being cautious with their two-time MVP. The only thing that matters to this organization is having their stars healthy and available for the playoffs, hence the reasoning behind getting the big man some extra rest.

Jokic has played in a total of 47 games this season, averaging 26.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game while shooting 58.5 percent from the floor. With Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid expected to cross the minimum games missed threshold for this season's awards, Jokic is now the clear frontrunner to win his third MVP since the start of the 2021-22 season. Only missing two games so far this season, Jokic is by no means in danger of being in a similar position to Embiid.