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Nuggets Host Thunder: Injury Impacts Top Matchup
2 Feb
Summary
- Thunder face injuries to Caruso, Mitchell, and Williams.
- Nuggets' key players Jokic and Murray are probable to play.
- Both teams have injuries affecting rotation players and depth.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to visit the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Sunday, February 1, 2026. This highly anticipated game features two of the Western Conference's top teams, but significant injuries on both sides add an element of uncertainty.
The Thunder, currently leading the West with a 38-11 record, are dealing with absences including Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, and Jalen Williams. These injuries impact their perimeter defense and overall rotation depth, placing more responsibility on stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
Denver, holding a 33-16 record and second place in the conference, is also navigating injuries. However, their key offensive engines, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, are listed as probable and expected to play. The Nuggets will miss Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon, affecting their wing depth.
This marks the first of three regular-season meetings between the two franchises. Historically, Oklahoma City leads the series. The game's pace may differ, with Oklahoma City favoring a faster tempo and Denver preferring deliberate half-court sets led by Jokic's playmaking.
The outcome may depend on the effective management of shorter benches and the performance of players stepping into larger roles due to the injuries.
