2 huge Western Conference injuries boost the Nuggets’ early season outlook

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the rest of Mile High Basketball will start off the NBA season against a powerhouse opponent. The Nuggets host the Thunder in Denver on October 24th in what will be a battle of the top two regular season teams in the west last season. Additionally it will be a matchup of the top two 2024 MVP vote getters in Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Following their matchup with OKC, the Nuggets will stay in town and welcome the Los Angeles Clippers on the 26th. Both of these matchups will now be impacted by recent injury news which should favor the Nuggets. Isaiah Hartenstein will not suit up for the Thunder and Kawhi Leonard will be unavailable for the Clippers.

Hartenstein’s injury news broke earlier this week, indicating that he suffered a “small, non-displaced” hand fracture in the Thunder’s preseason game against the Nuggets. The big man that would have been the primary Jokic-defender in their first game will be reevaluated in 5-6 weeks.

Leonard’s injury news on the other hand came out just days ago, shutting him down indefinitely due to inflammation in his right knee. This is the same knee injury that caused him trouble last season and forced him to withdraw from Team USA this summer. Leonard missing time is a massive blow to the Clippers, especially after they did not re-sign Paul George.

How do the Hartenstein and Leonard injuries impact the Nuggets long-term?

On paper, Denver had two difficult games to begin their season and they very-well could still be a challenge, as every NBA game is, but the Nuggets margin of error just grew. If Denver can punish OKC and LAC while they are hobbled, they have a good chance to start the season 4-0, thanks to facing the unproven Raptors and mediocre Nets following their first two home games.

Additionally, not only will Hartenstein miss the first matchup with Denver, but he will not be available for when the Thunder visit Ball Arena again on November 7th. Oklahoma City are still favored to finish as the top seed in the west despite the Hartenstein injury, but if Denver can secure both games at home against OKC, that goes a long-way in terms of playoff tiebreakers.

From a Nuggets-Clippers perspective, the implications are less prominent as LAC, even when healthy, are a tier or two below Denver. Regardless, outside of the Trail Blazers, there are no easy nights for Western Conference teams so just having another team in the west that may struggle is always a benefit.

The Nuggets are dealing with one hobbled player of their own in Peyton Watson, who missed all of the preseason with a hamstring injury. He has been ramping up his activity in practice but his status for opening night vs the Thunder is still uncertain.