The Denver Nuggets visit the Washington Wizards on Thursday, January 22, at 7:00 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena. Denver enters the game with a 29-15 record, holding third place in the Western Conference, while Washington sits 14th in the Eastern Conference at 10-32.
Denver faces a significant injury challenge as Nikola Jokic remains out with a left knee bone bruise, and Cameron Johnson is sidelined with a right knee bone bruise. Christian Braun and Tamar Bates are also unavailable, while Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jamal Murray are probable, and Jonas Valanciunas is questionable.
Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists per game, and his absence leaves a major gap in the Nuggets’ inside-out game. Murray contributes 26.0 points and 7.4 assists per contest, while Gordon adds 18.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Hardaway Jr. provides perimeter scoring with a .401 three-point percentage.
Washington also enters the matchup with multiple players sidelined. Tristan Vukcevic is out with a left hamstring strain, Cam Whitmore is out with a right shoulder deep vein thrombosis, and Trae Young is out due to a right knee MCL sprain and quad contusion. Marvin Bagley III, Bilal Coulibaly, and AJ Johnson are questionable, along with Khris Middleton.
The Wizards’ leading scorer, Alex Sarr, averages 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. Kyshawn George contributes 15.5 points and 4.9 assists per contest, but Washington’s roster gaps could limit depth and defensive rotations.
The Nuggets are on a two-game losing streak after losses to the Lakers (107-115) and Hornets (87-110), while the Wizards have dropped seven straight games. Denver took the previous meeting on January 17, winning 121-115.
