Nuggets Rest Key Players, Jokic Questionable for Spurs Showdown

Denver sits starters to prioritize health over playoff seeding in regular season finale.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:08pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, angular geometric shapes in a variety of bright colors, conveying the strategic considerations behind the Nuggets' lineup decisions.The Nuggets' decision to rest key players ahead of the playoffs reflects their focus on health over seeding as the postseason approaches.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets have decided to rest several of their key rotation players, including Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Cameron Johnson, for their regular season finale against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. Nuggets MVP candidate Nikola Jokic is also listed as questionable with a right wrist injury. The Nuggets are prioritizing player health over playoff seeding, as a win would secure the 3rd seed in the Western Conference but a loss could drop them to 4th.

Why it matters

The Nuggets' decision to rest their starters highlights the strategic considerations teams face at the end of the regular season, balancing the desire for optimal playoff positioning against the need to keep players healthy and rested for the postseason. This move could impact the Spurs' playoff positioning as well, as they may now have a better chance of advancing further in the playoffs.

The details

The Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, and Tim Hardaway Jr. for Sunday's game. Rookie Peyton Watson has also been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Jokic's status is uncertain, as playing less than 65 games would make him ineligible for postseason awards. However, he is likely to play at least the minimum 15 minutes needed to qualify.

  • The Nuggets sat many of the same players on Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  • Sunday's game against the Spurs is the final regular season game for both teams.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets' MVP candidate, who is questionable to play on Sunday due to a right wrist injury.

Jamal Murray

The Nuggets' starting point guard, who has been ruled out for Sunday's game.

Aaron Gordon

The Nuggets' starting power forward, who has been ruled out for Sunday's game.

Cameron Johnson

The Nuggets' starting small forward, who has been ruled out for Sunday's game.

David Adelman

The Nuggets' head coach, who discussed the team's decision to rest players.

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What they’re saying

“What's on the injury report is what they're out with. They're dealing with a lot more than that physically, not to mention some of the soft tissue stuff. Scary kinds of injuries.”

— David Adelman, Nuggets Head Coach

What’s next

If the Nuggets win on Sunday, they will secure the 3rd seed in the Western Conference and face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. If they lose, they could fall to the 4th seed and face the Houston Rockets in the first round.

The takeaway

The Nuggets' decision to rest their key players highlights the difficult balance teams must strike at the end of the regular season between optimizing playoff positioning and preserving player health. This move could have significant implications for the Nuggets' and Spurs' postseason paths.