The Denver Nuggets are one of the top contenders to win the Western Conference this season. Tonight, they are going into Game 3 of the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 2-0 lead. They easily took care of business at the Ball Center and now need to do the same when the series moves north.
The Nuggets are obviously the better team, and the only way the Timberwolves may come back in this series is if Nikola Jokic does not play. Even before Game 2, there were many questions is Jokic still injured, but the Serbian showed up ready and recorded 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists in 37 minutes as the Nuggets took a 2-0 lead with a 122-113 victory. That was far more playing time than he got in the opening game of the series when he played only 28 minutes, recording 13 points and 14 rebounds in the Nuggets’ 109-80 blowout win.
Photo by Icon Sport
What’s Jokic’s Injury Status Ahead of Game 3 of the Series?
Going into tonight’s game, Nikola Jokic is listed as probable. The reason why he is even in the injury report is a right wrist sprain but the level of injury is not something that will keep him off the floor. The more probable reason why he may sit this one out is because Mike Malone and the Nuggets need him in the best possible shape later on in the Playoffs. Despite the Nuggets comfortable lead, Malone is aware that one game can change the momentum so he will definitely want his superstar on the floor even if that means he will play some limited minutes which was not the case in Game 2. However, the answer to the questions is Jokic playing tonight will be answered right before tip-off.
Are the Timberwolves the favorites to win if Jokic doesn’t play tonight?
Nikola Jokic is definitely the leader of the Nuggets. Not just that he scores over 20 points on any given night and grabs over 10 rebounds per game, but he is the sole of this team, and he makes everyone around him better. The Nuggets are pretty limited when it comes to big men and knowing that the Timberwolves have Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, that means that the Timberwolves may take advantage if Jokic is out. The Serbian is not the type of player that will demand to sit out with minor injury, so we should expect him not just playing tonight but flirting with a triple-double. He has proven in the past that he enjoys playing against Rudy Gobert, so we will probably see another amazing performance by Jokic tonight.
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