The Denver Nuggets could get their superstar back, but the Dallas Mavericks know they’ll be without theirs when the teams meet on Friday in Denver.
Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, missed the Nuggets’ recent three-game road trip due to personal reasons. He is listed as questionable for Friday’s game, but the Mavericks will definitely be without Luka Doncic, who suffered a right wrist injury Tuesday night and will miss at least a week.
It’s a blow for Dallas entering what is essentially an elimination game in the NBA Cup group stage. The Mavericks and the Nuggets have one loss each in the West Group C standings, and the loser Friday night will not advance to the knockout round.
Doncic has missed time this season with a bothersome knee and will now sit for at least four games, per ESPN.
“Injuries are a part of sport and unfortunately he’s had a couple of here early,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “Hopefully that means he won’t have any going forward. After this last one, hopefully he’s clean for the rest of the way.”
The Mavericks still have Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, and he almost beat Denver on his own nearly two weeks ago. He scored a season-high 43 points but missed the potential game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds as the Mavericks fell 122-120.
Dallas was without P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II in that loss on Nov. 10, but both players have returned. The Mavericks have to overcome Doncic’s absence to win their fourth straight game.
“Next man up. Just be ready to guard the best man or just have the best man guard you,” center Daniel Gafford said. “It’s going to be a lot on (Irving). It’s going to be a lot on Klay (Thompson). but I feel like we’ve done a pretty good job whenever Luka has been off the floor. … The strategy is still the same.”
The Nuggets lost their first two road games with Jokic sidelined but beat Memphis 122-110 on Tuesday night for its first group stage win. Russell Westbrook notched his NBA-record 200th career triple-double in the win over the Grizzlies, but Denver lost forward Vlatko Cancar to a left knee injury.
“Not necessarily (season-ending). It could go a couple different ways,” coach Michael Malone said on Cancar’s injury after Thursday’s practice. “We’re still gathering information, letting the knee calm down a little bit. So I don’t want to get doom and gloom. But he’s out for the foreseeable future.”
Losing Cancar, who missed last season with an ACL tear, is another blow to the team’s depth. The Nuggets are already without Aaron Gordon (calf) and possibly Jokic, who is averaging a triple-double.
Malone has shown he is not shy about going deep into his bench. Guard Trey Alexander played nine minutes against Memphis on Tuesday and may get a chance to play more.
Dario Saric has rejoined the rotation after not playing for five straight games. Saric started for Jokic in the three road games and had 10 points and 10 rebounds in Denver’s 105-90 loss to the Grizzlies on Sunday night.