CLEVELAND (AP) — Things have quickly gone from bad to worse for the injury-plagued Denver Nuggets, who don’t have a true healthy center on their roster after losing three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and backup Jonas Valanciunas earlier this week.
Three other core players, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, were already sidelined with injuries, leaving point guard Jamal Murray as their last starter standing Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“There is no complaining here, but sometimes it’s a mystery to the head coach what’s going to happen,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “I can’t tell you how we’re going to be. I’ve just got to try things through these next few weeks.”
Jokic went down with a left knee hyperextension at Miami on Monday, just four days after his historic 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist performance against Minnesota on Christmas. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
The 7-foot Serbian is averaging 29.6 points and leads the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game. Jokic has 16 triple-doubles in 32 games.
Valanciunas strained his right calf in Toronto on Wednesday and also will not have his status updated until the end of January, forcing Denver to start 6-foot-9 rookie forward DaRon Holmes II at center in Cleveland.
“Right now, we are who we are,” Adelman said. “I’m actually excited for it, seeing DaRon out there for his first real action.”
Power forward Gordon (right hamstring strain), small forward Johnson (right knee soreness) and shooting guard Braun (left ankle sprain) do not have projected return dates, leaving Denver without players averaging a combined 80 points.
Remarkably, the Nuggets have maintained the third-best record in the West at 23-10.
“No one knows what’s going to happen with Aaron and Christian,” Adelman said. “And obviously, Cam, Jonas and Nikola are going to be out a while.”
Murray has been steady, regardless of who he is on the court with, averaging career highs of 25.1 points and 6.9 assists. The 10th-year pro is seeking his initial All-Star appearance and is logging a team-best 35.2 minutes per game.
The bumps and bruises are piling up, though, as Murray is playing through a left ankle sprain. Keeping him in the lineup is an ongoing issue for Adelman, who is in his first full season as Denver’s coach.
“It’s my biggest worry because Jamal is a concern,” Adelman said. “It’s a daily conversation with trainers and our medical staff, but he feels responsibility for his teammates to be out there.
“There is open communication every day. We’ll do our best to take care of him.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) makes pass as Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) and guard Ochai Agbaji (30) defend during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday Dec.31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver (13-3)
Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 12 1/2.
Against the spread: Chargers 8-7-1; Broncos 6-9-1.
Series record: Broncos lead 72-58-1.
Last meeting: Chargers beat Broncos 23-20 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, California.
Last week: Chargers lost to Texans 20-16; Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13.
Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (T-16).
Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (7).
Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (19), pass (9), scoring (14).
Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (8), scoring (4).
Turnover differential: Chargers plus-4 ; Broncos minus-5.
QB Trey Lance is making his sixth career start and first for the Chargers. He's appeared in three games this season, completing 7 of 13 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and two sacks.
WR Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 yards last week, but he dropped a touchdown pass and caught just four of the 10 passes Bo Nix threw his way. Sutton has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven TDs this season, a similar output to last year when he caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight TDs.
The Chargers offensive line and backup QB versus Denver's dominant pass rush. The Broncos have had a franchise-record and NFL-best 64 sacks so far and are within striking distance of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, who had a dozen in their season finale that year.
Chargers: Coach Jim Harbaugh said he's sitting QB Justin Herbert (left hand) for the finale along with several other starters. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed practice time this week as did CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OL Jamaree Salyer (hamstring). Harbaugh said he doesn't expect Salyer to play Sunday.
Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury and won't play in the finale. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee) and DL John Franklin-Meyers (hip) were limited in practice this week.
The Chargers have won all three games against Denver and Sean Payton with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. All three have been one-score games.
The Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season, the first time that's happened since they reached the postseason four consecutive times from 2006-09. ... The Bolts are coming off a 20-16 loss to Houston in which they were 2 of 5 in the red zone while the defense allowed a pair of rare long touchdown passes to open the game. K Cameron Dicker missed a field goal from inside 40 yards for the first time in his career and pulled an extra point wide for the first time this season. ... The Chargers are the only team that's unbeaten (5-0) in the AFC West this season. ... RB Omarion Hampton has a touchdown in three of his past four games. ... WR Quentin Johnston is coming off a 98-yard performance in Week 17. ... WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 3. ... The Broncos were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and can earn the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win Sunday. The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the division. ... Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 23. With a win Sunday, he'll tie Russell Wilson's NFL record of 24 wins in his first two seasons. ... Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. ... Nix is the third player ever, joining Herbert and Peyton Manning, with 3,500-plus passing yards and 25 or more TD passes in each of his first two NFL seasons. ... RB RJ Harvey leads rookies with a dozen TDs this season. He's scored a TD in five consecutive games. ... LB Nik Bonitto had two sacks in Week 3 against the Chargers.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden (86) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
