The majority of the Denver Nuggets’ starting lineup was unavailable when they traveled to Milwaukee two months ago to take on the Bucks.
Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., and Nikola Jokic were not selected to play in Denver’s game against New Orleans on January 25, preventing them from competing for the MVP with Giannis Antetokounmpo. That night, the Nuggets were blown out, but things will turn around when the teams meet in Denver on Saturday.
The NBA’s best team, Milwaukee (53-20), is playing the second game of a back-to-back set. Friday night in Utah, the Bucks defeated the Jazz 144-116, but the lopsided score forced their best players to miss the final quarter.
They play a team that hasn’t played since Wednesday.
Denver (49-24) is rested and ready to play after playing just once since Sunday, a 118-104 victory over Washington on Wednesday night.
The Nuggets are focusing on securing the top seed in the Western Conference, despite the fact that many people will be focused on the Jokic-Antetokounmpo matchup in Saturday night’s game. With nine games remaining, they are three games ahead of Memphis Grizzlies. Five of those games will be played at home, where they are 30-6.
Following Antetokounmpo’s victories in 2019 and 2020, Jokic is among the favorites to win the MVP award once more. His victories over Antetokounmpo in 2019 and 2020 were followed by Jokic’s win over Antetokounmpo. He is close to a triple-double with 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.9 assists, but Antetokounmpo (31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists) and Joel Embiid of Philadelphia are competing with him.
Jokic has stated that the MVP does not concern him.
Denver will be able to claim the No. 1 seed in the conference if it puts together strong performances against the Bucks and 76ers, who are in town on Monday night. first time in franchise history, a number one seed.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, has risen to the top of the Eastern Conference with a remarkable run. Since January 21, the Bucks have gone 24-3, including a 10-0 record in February.
They will be put to the test in the following week when they play four games in seven days, including a game against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night at home.
Getting the top seed would prevent Milwaukee from having to play a Game 7 on the road, as they did in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston in Milwaukee’s 2021-22 season.
Khris Middleton, a forward for the Bucks, missed Friday’s game because of treatment for a right knee injury, but he should be available Saturday night.
