The Denver Nuggets keep stacking wins while holding their breath. Ahead of Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, Denver’s injury sheet is long, and the names on it are big. Nikola Jokic remains out and will be checked again in about a week. Jamal Murray is trending toward playing. Several key rotation players are sidelined. Yet the Nuggets sit at 31-16 and second in the Northwest Division, a remarkable spot considering the bumps and bruises they’ve had to absorb.

This is the latest snapshot of a moving target. In December, Denver was 14-6. Since then, the team has navigated a wave of setbacks and, somehow, won seven games through the storm. Thursday offers another test of their depth and poise.

Denver Nuggets injury report vs. Nets

Let’s start with what’s confirmed for Thursday:

• Out: Nikola Jokic (knee, re-evaluation in about one week; expected out at least until Feb. 3)
• Out: Aaron Gordon (hamstring; won’t play vs. Nets; re-evaluation in 4–6 weeks; expected out at least until Jan. 30)
• Out: Christian Braun (ankle; out vs. Nets; re-evaluation in six weeks; expected out at least until Jan. 30)
• Out: Julian Strawther (back; no timetable)
• Out: Tamar Bates (foot; re-evaluated in 12 weeks; expected out until at least Apr. 1)
• Probable: Jamal Murray (hamstring/hip)
• Probable: Jonas Valanciunas (calf)

The Nets have their own hit list. Cameron Johnson (knee) is expected out until at least Feb. 3, a factor that trims Brooklyn’s spacing on the wing.

“If Jokic sits, can Denver’s defense and boards carry them again?”

Jokic, Gordon, Braun: timelines and what they mean

Jokic’s knee has been the headline. According to recent reporting, the two-time MVP will be re-evaluated in roughly a week. As one update framed it, “Jokic (knee) will be re-evaluated in about one week.” There’s even been talk that his timeline mirrors Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson, though one report added that Jokic is feeling a bit better than Johnson. In practical terms, Denver will need to keep building without its fulcrum for at least a few more games.

On the wings, the news is firm: “Gordon (hamstring) won’t play Thursday against the Nets.” He’s on a 4–6 week re-evaluation window after a hamstring issue: “Gordon (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.” Christian Braun’s sprain has a similar tone: “Christian Braun (ankle) will be re-evaluated in six weeks,” and more immediately, “Braun (ankle) is out for Thursday’s game against the Nets.”

What does that mean on the floor? Without Jokic and Gordon, Denver loses its best hub and its most versatile finisher/cutter. Without Braun, they lose a stout perimeter defender and secondary playmaker. It puts more weight on decision-making, ball control, and the glass. Every defensive rebound will matter. So will tempo.

“Seven wins in this storm? That’s coaching, culture, and smart shot making.”

Probables: Jamal Murray and Jonas Valanciunas

There is some good news. Murray is listed as probable with hamstring/hip tightness. That suggests he’s close to full go and ready to guide the offense. When Murray is aggressive early, Denver’s half-court looks smoother, even without Jokic. Expect more pick-and-rolls, more pull-ups, and a steady diet of drives to collapse the defense.

Valanciunas, dealing with a calf issue, is also probable. His recent trajectory is positive. One update noted he was upgraded to “questionable” for a recent game and is now tracking toward playing against Brooklyn. If he’s right, his size on the boards and low-post scoring can balance some of the playmaking gap left by Jokic. He also offers a big body to deter drives and contest at the rim.

Longer-term absences: Strawther and Bates

Two young pieces remain on the shelf. As one report put it, “Strawther (back) remains without a timetable to return.” And in a Monday update that set the tone for the spring, “The Nuggets announced Monday that Bates (foot) will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.” That places Bates’ earliest check-in around April 1. For a team building toward the playoffs, that’s a late-season variable at best.

Depth matters here. Without those minutes, Denver has tightened the rotation and leaned into veterans and role players to plug gaps. It’s not pretty at times, but it’s working well enough to bank wins.

“If Valanciunas is truly ready, the paint math flips fast.”

How Denver is coping — and what to watch Thursday

This team has adapted on the fly. According to a recent feature, the Nuggets have grabbed seven wins while key names were out. That’s buy-in. It’s also a product of simple, repeatable habits: protect the ball, rebound, and hunt good shots. Those three things travel, even when the shotmakers change.

Against the Nets, watch for a few swing factors:

• Murray’s rhythm: If he’s sharp early, the offense should hum.
• Valanciunas on the glass: Second-chance points can decide this one, especially with Jokic out.
• Wing defense without Gordon/Braun: Containing drives and contesting threes will be a team job.
• Bench lift: Even 10–15 strong minutes can swing momentum in a tight game.

Brooklyn’s loss of Cam Johnson lowers their spacing a bit. Denver should still expect pace, quick attacks, and a lot of threes. The first quarters in these injury-stretch games have been about feel and patience for the Nuggets. If they stay connected on defense and win the rebounding battle, they can tilt the math.

Official lines and dates that matter

Here are the latest marker quotes and dates, straight from recent reports:

• “Jokic (knee) will be re-evaluated in about one week.” Expected out at least until Feb. 3.
• “Gordon (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks,” and “Gordon (hamstring) won’t play Thursday against the Nets.”
• “Christian Braun (ankle) will be re-evaluated in six weeks,” and “Braun (ankle) is out for Thursday’s game against the Nets.”
• “Strawther (back) remains without a timetable to return.”
• “The Nuggets announced Monday that Bates (foot) will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.”
• “Valanciunas (calf) is probable for Thursday’s game against the Nets.”
• On timelines: “Adelman equated Cam Johnson and Jokic on timeline, but it does sound like Jokic is at least feeling better than Johnson.”

Outlook

Denver’s record tells a story of resilience: 31-16, second in the Northwest, and quietly methodical through chaos. Thursday is another step in a careful race against the calendar. The Nuggets need health more than headlines right now, but every win in this stretch strengthens their playoff seed and their belief.

Jokic’s next check comes in about a week. Gordon and Braun’s timelines push into February. Strawther and Bates are longer holds. In the meantime, the plan is simple: keep stacking good possessions, trust the system, and let Murray and Valanciunas set the tone. The margins are thin, but Denver has shown they can live there.