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Scuttlebutt around the league remains that Denver is almost definitely going to complete a trade before the Feb. 5 deadline. Just on an exponentially smaller scale. The team’s aim, as I’ve reported in recent weeks, will be to duck the luxury tax with a minor deal and convert Spencer Jones to a standard contract so he can continue playing, as long as his money aligns with the Kroenkes’ end goal. The Nuggets would be able to treat Jones as an upgrade to their power forward depth for the stretch run and the playoffs.
It’s no secret around the league that Denver’s preferred candidate to offload is Zeke Nnaji, whose 2025-26 cap hit is about $8.2 million. Nnaji was a solid contributor in January, averaging 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 22 minutes as an emergency center. He’s closed out multiple wins on account of his switchable defensive acumen
The Heat can offer a blue-chip young talent in Kel’el Ware, who is third in the NBA in rebounds per 36 minutes at 14.7 (behind Mitchell Robinson and Andre Drummond) and second among all NBA centers in three-point shooting percentage at 41 percent, behind only Denver superstar Nikola Jokic. The Heat’s offer, according to a source, is widely expected to include Ware, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier’s expiring contract, and another young player or more, as well as first-round picks in 2030 and 2032 and possibly first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2029 and 2031.
Nikola Jokic is ready to be a basketball player again, rather than a basketball fan (and coach). Those 16 games off with a knee injury? They weren’t as mentally refreshing as one would think. “Watching just a game, it was taking so much of my energy,” he said during his first media availability in more than a month. “I was yelling at the TV when I stayed back in Denver, and then, like, in the games (I was attending), I was so emotionally empty after the games. And then I decided the last two games, I’m just gonna try to chill and watch the game.”
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Shams Charania: Denver's Nikola Jokic – out since Dec. 29 with a knee injury – plans to return tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers at home, sources tell ESPN. Jokic now is in position to also play in Sunday's showdown vs. Oklahoma City in Denver and be eligible for the season awards.
Vinny Benedetto: Michael Porter Jr. gets welcomed back to Denver:
Michael Porter Jr. gets welcomed back to Denver:
— Vinny Benedetto (@vbenedetto.bsky.social) 2026-01-30T02:07:36.307Z
It must be said, though, that rival executives are increasingly curious about Denver's likely struggles to retain Peyton Watson this summer given the fourth-year swingman's recent breakout play amid all of the Nuggets' health woes. We'll certainly be tracking this situation over the coming months, since Watson's restricted free agency is already shaping up to become a major domino of the offseason. Sources say teams that are projected to have cap space — notably such as the Lakers — are already preparing interest.
The NBA just postponed tonight’s Denver-at-Memphis game due to inclement weather: pic.twitter.com/H7pWwmH0Pw
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 25, 2026
Missing most of the same players who sat out that overtime upset of the 76ers earlier this month, Denver pulled off another short-handed heist Friday with a 102-100 win over the Bucks. Six rotation players were out at opening tip. Seven were sidelined by the final buzzer. Aaron Gordon reinjured his right hamstring late in the first half, the latest blow to a Nuggets team that has been inching closer to full health. Gordon was the only regular starter who suited up for the second game of a back-to-back after a win Thursday in Washington. He reached for his right hamstring while bringing the ball up the floor near the end of the half. A team spokesperson said he suffered a hamstring strain and was questionable to return coming out of the break. He was ruled out officially after the third quarter. “I feel for him,” coach David Adelman said. “He’s optimistic it’s not as bad as it was, the last one. But we won’t know until we get it actually tested.”
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Gordon is facing a lengthy trend of soft tissue injuries. He navigated a calf strain for much of the 2024-25 regular season. He also suffered a left hamstring strain during Game 6 of Denver’s second-round playoff series against Oklahoma City and attempted to play through it in Game 7. “Some guys, it’s just something that they deal with,” Adelman said, pleading the Fifth on account of not being a doctor when asked if Denver will have to change its approach to back-to-backs with Gordon going forward. He had vouched for himself after the win in Washington. “I feel good,” he said. “Better than I’ve felt in a long time.”
Vinny Benedetto: Final: Nuggets 107, Wizards 97. Denver avoids the first three-game losing streak of the season behind a career night from Peyton Watson (35-8-3-2-4 on 10-16 FG, 6-8 3PT). Jamal Murray scores 19 of his 24 after halftime. Jonas Valanciunas posts 16 and 8 in 22 minutes in his return.
Danny Green on Lakers COVID title: They called it Mickey Mouse ring, but somebody had to win and we had to play and beat teams four times regardless if it was a bubble or not. And it wasn't easy and regardless of the fact we were the best team in the league that year, the Clippers were the only problem that we had honestly. So even if it wasn't a bubble year, I feel like we still would have won. Q: I think the Clippers were favored to win in the bubble, weren't they? Green: I think they lost the 3-1 series. Denver came back. But Denver again! The teams that people saying got lucky, these were good teams. Denver went to they won a championship after that. Miami went to the finals another year after that. So like it wasn't no flukes.
Rod Boone: Moussa Diabate is probable for tonight's game in Denver. Grant Williams (injury management) is out.
