As the NBA regular season winds down, the Denver Nuggets have their sights set on securing the top seed in the Western Conference standings. With a one-game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Nuggets know that two more victories will clinch the #1 seed for the second consecutive season.
Their next challenge comes on Friday night, when they travel to San Antonio to take on the Spurs.
In a controversial rant on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast “Nightcap,” retired NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas ignited fury among fans by branding Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic as the “worst NBA MVP in 40 years.” Arenas, known for his outspoken views, made the scathing remarks while discussing Jokic’s potential for a third MVP award this season.
The former point guard’s take sent shockwaves through the basketball community, with many questioning his logic and credibility.
The New York Knicks have had an impressive season full of resilience and surprising wins against top teams. But tonight they face arguably their biggest test yet, as they head to Denver to take on the defending champion Nuggets.
While the Knicks did blow out this same Nuggets team at Madison Square Garden a couple months ago, a lot has changed since then. For one, that Nuggets squad was clearly not at full strength, playing at the end of a long road trip.
The Denver Nuggets will be shorthanded when they host the defending champion Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Young forward Zeke Nnaji has been ruled out due to lingering lower back pain, marking yet another setback in his injury-riddled campaign.
While the 23-year-old’s absence is unlikely to drastically impact the outcome given his limited role, it underscores the Nuggets’ depth issues early in the season. Nnaji was expected to shoulder more responsibility this year after showing flashes of potential last season, but the nagging back woes have stunted his development so far.
The San Antonio Spurs received a much-needed boost with the return of forward Keldon Johnson, who was sidelined for the team’s previous game against the Houston Rockets due to an illness. Johnson’s availability was confirmed by the Spurs ahead of their Friday night clash against the Western Conference powerhouse Denver Nuggets.
Johnson’s presence on the court is a welcome sight for the Spurs, who have been plagued by injuries and inconsistent performances throughout the season.
