Overview
- Denver announced Jonas Valanciunas sustained a right calf strain and will be re-evaluated in four weeks after leaving Wednesday’s win in Toronto.
- Nikola Jokic remains out for at least four weeks with a hyperextended left knee, leaving Denver without its top two centers for the near term.
- The Nuggets beat the Raptors 106-103 on Dec. 31 after video review overturned Brandon Ingram’s would-be tying three at the buzzer.
- Peyton Watson led Denver with 24 points and eight rebounds, Jamal Murray added 21, and only eight Nuggets played; Scottie Barnes had a 20-14-10 triple-double for Toronto.
- With frontcourt depth thinned, Denver is expected to lean on DaRon Holmes II and Zeke Nnaji and could seek short-term help via a hardship signing; Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson remain out but could return during the road trip.