The Denver Nuggets chose to rest the majority of their regular rotation for the second consecutive game. This decision came ahead of their Sunday’s regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs.
Jokic’s Limited Minutes
Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, was a notable exception. Nuggets coach David Adelman stated Jokic would play at least the first half. Jokic needed to play a minimum of 15 minutes to qualify for postseason awards.
Impact on Western Conference Standings
The Nuggets’ decision to prioritise rest and health before the postseason may affect the standings. Denver entered the game as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 53-28 record. They could have swapped places with the No. 4-seeded Los Angeles Lakers (52-29) if L.A. won against Utah and the Nuggets lost.
The Lakers hold the tiebreaker over the Nuggets. This is due to a victory in overtime last month.
Nuggets’ Inactive Players
Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun were all ruled out for Sunday’s game. All four players, including Jokic, missed the previous 127-107 victory over Oklahoma City. Tim Hardaway Jr., who played against the Thunder, was also unavailable. Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones were also out, each nursing right hamstring strains.
Spurs’ Roster Update
The Spurs were mostly healthy, with the exception of Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama was ruled out. He had already secured eligibility for postseason awards by playing on Friday.
The Spurs are locked in as the No. 2 seed in the West. A win for them could have potentially forced the Nuggets into Oklahoma City’s playoff bracket.
Potential Playoff Matchups
As the No. 3 seed, the Nuggets were in line to play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. If the Nuggets fell to No. 4, they would host the Houston Rockets.