Skeleton Crew Nuggets Head to Memphis Amid Growing Injury Crisis

MILWAUKEE — The Denver Nuggets are proving that “Next Man Up” isn’t just a cliché; it’s a survival strategy. Despite a roster decimated by injuries to nearly every key starter, the Nuggets (31–15) secured a gritty 102–100 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. However, the victory came at a high cost, as the team’s injury report has ballooned to critical levels ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Current Situation: A Roster Under Siege

The Nuggets entered Friday already missing three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, who has now been sidelined for 14 consecutive games with a left knee bone bruise. The situation took a turn for the worse when Aaron Gordon aggravated a right hamstring strain in the second quarter against Milwaukee and did not return.

Coach David Adelman, currently leading the team, expressed optimism that Gordon’s setback isn’t as severe as the injury that cost him 19 games earlier this season, but the forward has already been ruled OUT for Sunday.

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Official Nuggets Injury Report (as of Jan 24, 2026)

The following players are listed on the official NBA injury report for the Sunday, January 25 game at Memphis:

Player	Injury	Status
Nikola Jokić	Left knee bone bruise	OUT
Aaron Gordon	Right hamstring strain	OUT
Christian Braun	Left ankle sprain	OUT
Cameron Johnson	Right knee bone bruise	OUT
Jamal Murray	Hamstring / Hip inflammation	Questionable
Peyton Watson	Bilateral ankle sprains	Questionable
Jonas Valančiūnas	Right calf strain	Questionable

Medical Watch: The team is targeting January 30 for Nikola Jokić’s next major medical re-evaluation. If cleared, his earliest potential return would be January 31 against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena.

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Finding Silver Linings

Despite the missing star power, Denver’s depth has kept them 3rd in the Western Conference.

• Julian Strawther exploded for a season-high 20 points in his first start on Friday.

• Zeke Nnaji and Bruce Brown have been instrumental in stabilizing a frontcourt missing both Jokić and his primary backup, Valančiūnas.

• Tim Hardaway Jr. provided a much-needed 17 points off the bench to help seal the win in Milwaukee.

Looking Ahead

The Nuggets conclude their road trip in Memphis (Sunday, 1:30 PM MST) before returning home for a stretch they hope will coincide with the return of their superstars. With a 9–5 record since Jokić went down, Denver has proven they can tread water, but the mounting “soft tissue” injuries to Murray and Gordon are testing the limits of that resilience.