The Denver Nuggets have listed their entire starting lineup as questionable for Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets following a chaotic travel ordeal in Mexico.
The team, which defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-102 at the Arena CDMX on Saturday, faced technical issues with their aircraft that stranded players and staff at the airport until early Sunday morning.
According to reports from Basket USA, the Nuggets were unable to depart Mexico until Sunday afternoon after being forced to return to their hotel at 5:00 a.m. local time. The travel delay resulted in the cancellation of the team’s scheduled Monday morning shootaround.
The team’s medical report lists several key contributors dealing with various physical ailments. Nikola Jokic is questionable with a right elbow sprain, while Jamal Murray is managing a contusion to his tibia. Christian Braun is also listed as questionable due to a left calf contusion and an illness.
Frontcourt depth may be further tested as Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson appear on the injury report for leg pain management. DeMar DeRozan is questionable as he continues to deal with back pain that sidelined him during the recent matchup against Toronto. While these six players are currently listed as questionable, the team has not yet confirmed any formal absences for the Houston contest.
Should the starters be unavailable, the Nuggets will likely rely on a bench unit that contributed 43 points during the win in Mexico. Spencer Jones, who recorded 13 points in his return to the rotation, is expected to see increased minutes alongside Marvin Bagley III, Tyus Jones, Trevon Brazile, Bryce Hopkins, and Alpha Diallo.
The Nuggets enter the matchup with four wins in their last five games, though the physical toll of the altitude in Mexico City and the ensuing travel disruption presents a new challenge. The Rockets, meanwhile, are looking to snap a two-game losing streak but will be without centers Steven Adams and Clint Capela.
Saturday’s game against Indiana marked the 16th NBA regular-season game held in Mexico, according to Sport.fr. The league has prioritized the region as a growth market, with officials citing a fan base of approximately 30 million people in the country. The Nuggets’ victory was fueled by a strong first-half performance where they built a 27-point lead, as reported by Source 3, with Jokic contributing 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Injury Report ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Rockets: QUESTIONABLE: Christian Braun (Left Calf Contusion/Illness) Aaron Gordon (Lower Body Injury Management) Cameron Johnson (Lower Body Injury Management) Nikola Jokić (Right Elbow Sprain) Jamal Murray (Left Shin/Tibia… pic.twitter.com/TiUqRElhtR
The game at Arena CDMX drew 20,191 spectators to witness the Nuggets build a 64-41 halftime lead, bolstered by scoring runs of 10-0, 9-0, and 15-0 in the first two quarters. Indiana, playing without Tyrese Haliburton, Johnny Furphy, and Ben Sheppard, led only at 5-0.
Regarding the league’s expansion, Raúl Zarraga, NBA managing director for Latin America and Canada, noted: Il y a déjà 30 millions de fans au Mexique, plus du double de ce qu’il y avait il y a environ 12 ou 14 ans
.
This contest represented the 35th NBA game in the country since 1992, and the league also highlighted that Memphis Grizzlies rookie Karim López has become the first Mexico-born player to be drafted into the NBA.
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