Kofi Inkoom
The NBA In-Season tournament is set to kick off this Friday, featuring a high-stakes showdown between the reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, and the Dallas Mavericks.
This matchup will showcase two of the most talented players in the game, both considered strong contenders for the MVP title: Nikola Jokic representing the Nuggets and Luka Doncic leading the Mavericks.
In terms of injuries, the Denver Nuggets, with a current record of 4-1 in the regular season, have a few players on their injury report.
Nikola Jokic is dealing with low back pain, Christian Braun has a right shin strain, and Jamal Murray is nursing a quadriceps contusion.
All three of these key players are listed as probable for the upcoming Friday game.
Nikola Jokic has had an outstanding start to the 2023-24 season, averaging 26.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in 33.2 minutes per game. Despite his back issue, it’s unlikely that this injury will prevent him from suiting up on Friday.
Christian Braun has played a relatively consistent role off the bench early in the season, with averages of 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 21.8 minutes per game. Even with his injury, it seems probable that he’ll be ready to play on Friday.
Jamal Murray has shown no significant limitations at the beginning of the season, averaging 18.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per game. Although he’s dealing with a quad issue, it’s likely that he’ll be able to power through it during the Friday matchup.
Regarding the Dallas Mavericks(4-0), they have their own set of injury concerns. Kyrie Irving is listed as questionable due to a left foot sprain, and Maxi Kleber is also questionable with a right toe issue. Unfortunately, it appears unlikely that they will be able to participate in the game.