Is Devin Booker playing? KCP? Nurkic? Nuggets Suns injury report for March 5th
By Ben Handler
Tuesday night’s game between the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns offers up plenty of intrigue. For one thing it’s a second round playoff rematch from 2023, and for another it’s packed with star power on both sides of the court.
The Nuggets come into the game boasting a 42-19 record, just half a game back of the number one seed in the Western Conference, while the Suns enter at 35-26, clinging to the seven seed, and scrapping and clawing to get into the top six and out of the play-in tournament.
The Suns built their team around a big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, but those three have had a hard time staying on the floor and have struggled to build any rhythm or chemistry. That along with a lack of depth have been the stories of the season for Phoenix.
The Nuggets know exactly what they have with their starting lineup, but when even one starter is missing, they face some issues. Both teams have some notable injury news; for the Nuggets it’s good news, for the Suns, not so much.
Nuggets injury report
The only player currently on the injury report for Denver is Vlatko Cancar, who remains out with a knee injury. More importantly, that means that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is off the injury report and will return to the Nuggets’ starting lineup after missing Saturday’s matchup with the Lakers for personal reasons.
Suns injury report
The injury report is much longer and more troublesome for Phoenix. Devin Booker (ankle), Josh Okogie (abdominal), Nassir Little (knee), and Damion Lee (knee) have all been ruled ‘Out’ Booker sprained his ankle against the Rockets on Saturday night and missed their game on Sunday against the Thunder. Booker is now set to miss the next 7-10 days before being re-evaluated.
Jusuf Nurkic is also listed as ‘Questionabel’ with calf tightness. Nurk has had a very solid season for the Suns, and they need it as he’s their only real center, and the only prayer they have at slowing down Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets are currently listed as 8.5 point favorites at home, and I’d expect that number to go up if Nurkic can’t give it a go.