Two players on the fringe of the Nuggets\u2019 rotation will have one more chance to make their case for postseason consideration.<\/p>\n
Nikola Jokic, who must play 15 minutes in Sunday\u2019s regular-season finale at San Antonio to be eligible for end-of-season awards, is listed as questionable with right wrist injury management. The other four starters \u2013 Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson and Aaron Gordon \u2013 will not play. Tim Hardaway Jr. is also getting Sunday off, while Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones remain out with hamstring strains.<\/p>\n
That means Julian Strawther and Jonas Valanciunas will have an opportunity to build on their performances in Friday\u2019s win over the Thunder against a Spurs team that could also be shorthanded.<\/p>\n
San Antonio is listing Victor Wembanyama, who reached the threshold to be eligible for end-of-season awards on Friday, as questionable to play against Denver. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell carry the same designation into Sunday\u2019s game with the Spurs locked into the two seed. A Denver win or a Lakers loss to a tanking Jazz team makes the Nuggets the three seed and sets up a first-round series against the Timberwolves. If the Nuggets lose and the Lakers win, Denver gets the four seed and hosts the Rockets to start the playoffs.<\/p>\n
With Denver\u2019s starters in street clothes against Oklahoma City, Strawther turned a team-high 17 shots into 22 points. He went 4 of 7 from 3-point range and added four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in an important win over an ever-more-limited Oklahoma City squad that had already secured the top seed in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26101072634867-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther, left, fights for control of the ball with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know in this room what he can do offensively. I think he took a step in the right direction of getting better at the things he\u2019s already good at,\u201d Nuggets coach David Adelman said of Strawther\u2019s season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe floater has gotten better and better. (He has) much more confidence just to shoot the ball from the four-point line and let the thing go when he feels like he\u2019s open, which we need from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valanciunas ended up leading the Nuggets to an 11th consecutive win that secured home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with 23 points, 17 rebounds and four assists. As impressive as the stat line was, Valanciunas\u2019 postseason role will likely come down to Denver\u2019s opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe matchup thing does matter,\u201d Adelman said of Valanciunas\u2019 role. \u201cIf teams can spread you out with five shooters, it makes it tougher. If he has a matchup where we can put him in a proper coverage situation defensively, give him a chance, we know what he can do offensively.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26101074965992-1024x683.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valan\u010di\u016bnas, right, looks to pass the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder center Branden Carlson defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n
The uncertain injury timelines for Jones, who last played in the March 29 win over Golden State, and Watson, who got hurt on April 1 against Utah, complicate the rotation calculus. If Jones, who\u2019s been used as a center in small-ball lineups, isn\u2019t ready, that increases the chances Valanciunas is in the rotation, not that the veteran big man is sweating his situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a small lineup works, we rock with it,\u201d Valanciunas said. \u201cIf it doesn\u2019t work, we do something else. Whatever works.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Watson isn\u2019t ready by the time Denver\u2019s playoff run begins, that creates space for Strawther to play meaningful minutes. That\u2019s a familiar situation. After playing most of his minutes in the first five games of last year\u2019s second-round series against the Thunder in garbage time, Strawther stepped up and provided an offensive spark with 15 points on eight shots in Denver\u2019s Game 6 win. His role has been in flux for most of this season, as the Nuggets have dealt with a rash of injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarly on this year, there was literally no opportunity for me, and that\u2019s just what it was,\u201d Strawther said. \u201cI would be lying to you if I said it was easy, but (it\u2019s) understanding you can get a call one morning before a game and there going to be like \u2018Hey, you\u2019re starting tonight.\u2019 Things move just that fast in the league. You\u2019ve got to be ready for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless of the eventual playoff role, Adelman said the Nuggets need Strawther to provide one constant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has to come in the game and feel ultra confident all the time, and that\u2019s a skill in our league. It\u2019s hard because everybody wants to find a rhythm in the NBA, but not all roles are the same. I\u2019ve been really proud of him,\u201d the Nuggets\u2019 coach said, adding his third-year guard has made strides defensively.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re fully healthy, there will be guys that have to sacrifice. He will be one of them, but we know what he can bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same could be said for Valanciunas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about individual. It\u2019s about team. Whatever works for the team, whatever adds more points than (the) opponents, we rock with it no matter what,\u201d Valanciunas said. \u201cIt was not a place to have an ego all season. The post(season) it\u2019s even less of that. We\u2019re working toward something big. It\u2019s not about me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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