Is Nikola Jokic Playing Today? Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers

The Denver Nuggets (44-26) play the third of a four-game West Coast road trip tonight with a visit to Moda Center for a date with the Portland Trail Blazers (31-39). Denver has rotated wins and losses over its past eight and is coming in off a defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers have played some of their better ball lately, riding a three-game win streak. Tonight’s matchup tips off at 10:00 p.m. ET from the Pacific Northwest.

Spread: Trail Blazers -2 | Moneyline: Nuggets +116 | Trail Blazers -134 | Total: 228

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Is Nikola Jokic Playing Today?

The Nuggets have gone the past two games without their superstar big man, and it looks like that trend will continue Friday night. Nikola Jokic (ankle) was actually ruled out for this one yesterday, which is not a good sign for his status on Sunday.

The Serbian center’s 29 triple-doubles lead the league and are 19 more than the next player in line (LeBron James). Jokic is also Denver’s leading scorer (29.1 PPG), passer (10.3 APG), and rebounder (12.8 RPG). He is obviously sorely missed by the playoff-bound Nuggets. That said, Jokic’s health for the postseason is undoubtedly Denver’s top priority.

Denver has also been without starting point guard and second-leading scorer Jamal Murray (21.5 PPG) over the past two. Murray’s status for tonight is a little more optimistic than Jokic’s as he works his way back from a sprained right ankle. The Nuggets backcourt general is questionable for tonight against Portland.

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