The Brooklyn Nets are set to kick off their six-game Western Conference road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Entering the matchup, the Nets are grappling with significant injuries, leaving them with a depleted roster against a strong Nuggets team.
In their recent game against the Detroit Pistons, the Nets had only eight rotation players available, resulting in a 113-98 loss. The team will continue to miss key players, including second-leading scorer Cameron Johnson, who is averaging 19.5 points per game. Johnson has been sidelined with a sprained ankle and is listed as out for Friday night. However, there is hope that he may return later during the road trip.
Alongside Johnson, the Nets’ top scorers Cam Thomas (24.7 ppg), Dennis Schroder (18.4 ppg), and D’Angelo Russell (12.7 ppg) were all absent in the last game. Thomas has been struggling with a hamstring injury and has played only two games since November 25. Schroder is dealing with a bruised left hip, while Russell has missed the last two games with a bruised right shin. Noah Clowney stepped up in their absence, scoring a career-high 29 points against Detroit.
Denver has also faced its share of injuries, notably with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who has missed two consecutive games due to a non-COVID illness. Jokic, who leads the NBA in scoring with 31.5 points per game, is officially listed as questionable. The Nuggets have a 2-3 record in games Jokic has missed, including a 23-point win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., who lead the team in scoring at 19.4 points and 19 points per game, respectively, will be crucial for Denver. Russell Westbrook, starting in place of the injured Aaron Gordon, has also been pivotal with his playmaking abilities.
The Nuggets, despite injuries, have maintained a solid 21-15 record. This game marks a challenging test for the Nets, who are aiming to overcome their latest string of injuries and get back on track.
Both teams will need to rely on their bench players to step up and make significant contributions.
