The Denver Nuggets are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers on March 20, 2025, in a highly anticipated matchup that has taken a turn due to injuries affecting both teams. Most notably, the Nuggets will miss two of their star players, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, leaving them shorthanded against a Lakers team that is already without LeBron James.
Nikola Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP and a leading candidate for the award again this year, has been ruled out of the contest due to an elbow contusion and an ankle impingement. This will mark his second consecutive missed game—he also sat out the previous game against the Golden State Warriors. The announcement was first reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes and later confirmed by the team’s injury report.
Jokic's absence is a significant blow to the Nuggets, who are currently dealing with a tough stretch of games. Through 62 contests this season, he has averaged an impressive 29.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists, while shooting 58% from the field. This prowess on the floor leaves fans and analysts speculating about the impact his absence may have on the match against the 32-35 Lakers, especially given that the Nuggets themselves have been fighting for playoff positioning.
While fans and commentators have speculated whether Jokic's absence is strategic, the Denver Nuggets head coach, Michael Malone, dismissed any notion that his star player is being rested. “Somebody said after the Golden State game that what the Denver Nuggets did was a disgrace to the league. And I think that’s just a bunch of bullsh-t,” Malone expressed during a pregame press conference. “The last 10 years Nikola Jokic has played the 2nd most games in the NBA. So if Nikola is not playing, it’s not because he’s sitting. It’s because he’s hurt and he’s trying to play through things that most wouldn’t.” Malone made it clear that the only reason a player would miss a game on his team is if they genuinely can't perform at their highest level.
Alongside Jokic, Jamal Murray is also sidelined, suffering from a right ankle sprain. Murray’s absence further compounds the challenges for the Nuggets, who now find themselves having to rely on their depth. Aaron Gordon stepped into the center position for the previous game against the Warriors, and if both stars remain out, he is expected to lead the charge again against the Lakers.
The situation looks similarly challenging for the Lakers. Even with Luka Doncic in the lineup, they face a difficult path to secure a victory without their own superstar, LeBron James. Current speculation continues to circulate about whether this matchup could be pivotal in the playoff race for both teams.
After initially reporting that Jokic might return for the game against the Lakers, the Nuggets organization later confirmed he would remain out. This has drawn a mixed response from fans, some of whom feel frustration over the perceived trend of resting players in key matchups, which can skew competitive balance in the league.
As the team heads into the matchup, the Nuggets have won a surprising game against the Warriors but hope that their resilience will continue in the absence of two of their biggest assets. The game is set to tip off at 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 20, 2025, an essential game for Denver’s playoff aspirations.
With both teams facing challenges, the tension builds for this key matchup. Can the Lakers capitalize on the Nuggets' struggles, or will Denver’s depth rise to the occasion? As basketball fans eagerly anticipate tonight’s game, the overarching question remains: how will these injuries impact the chase for playoff positioning?
