The Denver Nuggets have been hit hard by injuries recently. Already without three starters to start the season, the Nuggets lost perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic for about a month due to a hyperextended knee. Now, Jonas Valanciunas will be out for at least four weeks with a calf injury.
“Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks after sustaining a right calf strain in Wednesday’s win in Toronto, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Shams Charania tweeted.
Days After Losing Nikola Jokic, Nuggets See Another Big Man Go Down; How Will They Replace Them?
Valanciunas suffered the injury in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 106-103 win at Toronto. Valanciunas, making his first start of the season for the injured Jokic, was in the midst of a season-best performance before suffering the injury. He finished the night with 17 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field, along with nine rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.
Denver, needing to upgrade its depth, acquired Valanciunas from Sacramento this summer for Dario Saric. While Valanciunas isn’t having a great year — his countable stats are the worst of his career — he has been efficient and has provided quality minutes while Jokic sat. He has compiled one double-double and averages 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 13 minutes of action over 33 appearances.
Valanciunas is the third Nuggets player to suffer a significant injury since the week of Christmas and the fourth frontcourt player overall. Thus, leaving the Nuggets extremely thin at center until at least February 1, when Jokic and Valanciunas could return. The Nuggets have 17 games in January.
How Will The Nuggets Replace Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas At Center?
Zeke Nnaji and DaRon Holmes II figure to see most of the minutes at center at least until Aaron Gordon returns. Holmes, who has spent the majority of the season in the G-League, saw the most extensive action of his young career against the Raptors. He totaled 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting, including 2 of 2 from deep, three rebounds, and one block in 22 minutes of action.
Holmes, the No. 22 pick in 2024, is still feeling his way in the league after missing all of last season due to a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered during the summer league. At the beginning of the season, the Nuggets decided to take their time with Holmes and sent him down to the Grand Rapids Gold. He was highly efficient with the Gold, averaging 20.7 points, 7.2 rebounds (1.5 offensive), 4.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks. He also produced 1.6 points per shot and compiled three double-doubles in 15 games.
Selected by Phoenix, Denver acquired the 6-9 freakish athletic forward on draft night. The Nuggets sent Ryan Dunn, the 28th pick in 2024, and a second-round pick that year (Kevin McCullar Jr.), along with two other second-rounders (2026, 2031) to the Suns. Holmes is a two-way big man who can play the four and five and is at his best finishing at the rim, though he has acclimated his game to the 3-point line well. He loves to get out in transition, though he is capable of attacking closeouts due to his explosiveness. Additionally, he has shown the ability to be a connector.
Denver Has 8 Players Listed On the Injury Report For the Game Against Cleveland
Holmes figures to start at center as Nnaji has failed to live up to expectations. Nnaji, chosen with the No. 22 pick in 2020, has seen his role and production decline since his breakout season in 2022-23. The 24-year-old center, who has started one game and 12 for his career, averages 2.1 points and 1.4 boards over 8.1 minutes in 20 games.
2023 second-round pick Hunter Tyson is also an option for David Aldeman. Tyson is an undersized center with limited NBA experience. Tyson, who has struggled in his 81 games, currently averages just 1.2 points, on 23.8% shooting from the field and 18.2% from the 3-point line, and 1.3 rebounds in 12 games this year.
Denver (23-10) sits in third place in the Western Conference, though it is just 6-4 in its last 10. The Nuggets will be extremely shorthanded when they continue their season-long seven-game road trip tonight in Cleveland. They have lost two of their first three contests during the journey.
The Nuggets have eight players listed on their injury report, with six players out. On the positive, though, Jamal Murray (left ankle) and Julian Strawther (illness) are probable.
In addition to Jokic and Valanciunas, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun and Tamar Bates are out. Gordon (hamstring) has missed the last 19 games, while Braun (ankle) has sat out the past 23. The good news is that Gordon and Braun could return at some point before the Nuggets return home on January 9 against Atlanta.
Johnson has missed the last four games with a knee injury. Johnson likely won’t be back until early next month as he is expected to be re-evaluated in three to five weeks. Bates, who has been in the G League all season, is out for the year.
Nuggets Projects To Use 11th Different Starting Lineup
So, Denver figures to have 11 players available for tonight. Adalman figures to run out his 11th starting lineup. Murray, Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson, and Jalen Pickett figures to be joined by Holmes though it wouldn’t a surprise if Nnaji started. Murray, Jones, Watson, and Picket started together for the first time against Toronto.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, Nnaji, and Strawther will likely get the majority of minutes off the bench. Curtis Jones, on a two-way contract, and Tyson also could see an increase in time the rest of the trip.
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