The Nuggets are back in action on Thursday night with another marquee, national TV matchup, playing the Bucks on TNT at 6 PM MT in Milwaukee. The Bucks lost a tight one their last time out against the Rockets but had previously won four straight games. For the season, they’re up to 32-25, which has them in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
For Denver, they were the hottest team in the league at the All-Star break but saw their nine-game winning streak snapped at home on Saturday by the Lakers. They bounced back with a nice win over the Pacers on Tuesday, improving to 38-20, tied with the Grizzlies for second in the West.
Along with boasting two of the stronger teams in the NBA, these are two of the most recent league champions. The Bucks won it all in 2021 and the Nuggets, of course, took home the title in 2023.
Each team is led by their superstar and MVP, arguably the two best players in the league. The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won the league’s MVP award in 2019 and 2020, adding a Finals MVP in 2021. Nikola Jokic has three MVP awards of his own, winning in 2021, 2022, and 2024 with a Finals MVP in 2023 as well.
Giannis listed as Probable for Thursday night
With any luck, fans will be treated to the MVP showdown we deserve, but there have been some injury concerns on Milwaukee’s end. Antetokounmpo has been dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for multiple games leading up to the All-Star break and kept him out of the actual event in San Francisco.
But Giannis has been back in the lineup for the Bucks’ past four games. He started with a ramp-up, playing just 23 and 19 minutes in his first two games, but has been up over 30 in the last two. He is officially listed as probable for Thursday night and is expected to play.
Injury Report - Feb. 27 vs. Denver
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 26, 2025
Out:
Pat Connaughton (Left Calf Strain)
Bobby Portis Jr. (League Suspension)
Probable:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Left Calf Strain)
Nuggets injury report
Denver has some of their own injury concerns; they’ll be without Peyton Watson yet again with his knee injury and there’s still no timetable for DaRon Holmes or Vlatko Cancar. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are both listed as probable, but have been playing for the most part recently.
The Nuggets should be almost at full strength for another big matchup with an Eastern Conference playoff opponent and fans should be treated to a battle of MVPs and two of the best players in the world, both in their primes.