The Denver Nuggets could be walking into Monday night’s matchup with the Houston Rockets and Kevin Durant without several familiar faces, and Nikola Jokic is right in the middle of the uncertainty.
Denver has tagged Jokic as questionable for the game because of an elbow injury. He’s not alone on the report, either: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun and DeMar DeRozan are all listed as questionable as well.
The timing points to more than just a standard injury update. The Nuggets dealt with travel problems after playing in Mexico City on Saturday, and that appears to be part of the reason for the crowded injury list.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported that Denver had “major plane delays” trying to get out of Mexico City and was hoping to leave on Sunday night. That kind of mess makes a Monday road game in Houston a lot less comfortable, and it gives the Nuggets a built-in excuse to hold out players if the trip doesn’t go smoothly.
The same report said the Nuggets had major plane delays getting out of Mexico City, per sources, but were hopeful to get out tonight. Denver listed Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Johnson, Braun and DeRozan questionable for various minor ailments.
Even with the elbow designation, Jokic missing a game would be a surprise. He’s the kind of star who usually finds a way onto the floor; last season, he played 65 games despite a major knee injury. Still, the Nuggets may be keeping their options open in case the travel situation leaves them short-handed against Houston.
Jokic’s numbers this season are still strong, even if the shooting has been off by his standards. He’s averaging 22.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from 3. That’s not the usual Jokic efficiency from deep, but he’s still hovering around a triple-double every night.
The elbow issue may also help explain some of that early-season shooting dip. Jokic has dealt with an elbow problem before, and it’s possible that’s been part of what has slowed him down in the 2026-27 season.
Oddsmakers are clearly paying attention to the uncertainty. DraftKings has Denver as an 8.5-point road underdog, a number that suggests the market is bracing for at least one key player to sit. That’s a notable shift for a team that has been favored in seven of eight games this season and was only an underdog in its opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Denver was a 7.5-point underdog in that season opener, so this line hints that the Nuggets may again be short of full strength when they face Houston.
The latest odds and Jokic’s status will be updated once Denver releases a more concrete injury report ahead of Monday night’s Western Conference clash.
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