The Denver Nuggets will be without a key contributor once again as they look to maintain their strong form against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
Fresh off a dominant 128-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers — their second straight victory and third in the last four games — Denver enters the matchup with solid momentum. The Nuggets are 6-4 in their last 10 contests and hold a 44-28 record, placing them fourth in the Western Conference. They are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves and sit just a half-game ahead of the Houston Rockets, while trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by two games.
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The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, snapped a five-game losing streak with a convincing 120-98 victory over the Toronto Raptors in their most recent outing. They currently sit in seventh place in the West, four games clear of the Los Angeles Clippers but still 3.5 games behind the Rockets.
This marks the third meeting between the two teams this season, with the Nuggets holding a 2-0 advantage after a 130-112 win in the most recent encounter on November 29.
Denver Nuggets Injury Report
In a significant blow to Denver’s rotation, Peyton Watson is OUT due to right hamstring injury management. Watson had just made his return on March 22 against the Trail Blazers, logging 20 minutes off the bench and posting 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists in his first action since February 4.
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Given that this is the front end of a back-to-back (with Dallas up next on Wednesday), the Nuggets are opting for caution and resting Watson to ensure a full recovery.
Phoenix Suns Injury Report
The Suns’ injury list remains lengthy heading into the game:
- Grayson Allen is QUESTIONABLE with left knee injury management. He has missed the last four games and averages 17.2 points, three rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 44 games this season.
- Royce O’Neale is PROBABLE with left knee soreness. He has missed three games but boasts strong averages of 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 40% from three-point range over 69 games.
- Dillon Brooks remains OUT with a left hand fracture (suffered February 21). He is no longer in a cast but has not yet been cleared for contact.
- Mark Williams is OUT with a left foot third metatarsal stress reaction (out since March 3).
- Amir Coffey is OUT with a left ankle sprain (out since March 19; averaging 2.9 points in 43 games).
- Haywood Highsmith is OUT with right knee injury management (limited to just six games this season; out since March 17).
This matchup presents a tough test for both sides as they navigate significant injury concerns late in the regular season. The Nuggets will need to find ways to compensate for Watson’s absence on the wing and in defense, while the Suns hope to get healthy contributors like Allen and O’Neale back on the floor to challenge Denver’s momentum.