The Denver Nuggets don’t have the luxury of time. After a gut-punching blowout in Game 3, they need every ounce of firepower to respond. The spotlight is on Denver’s star duo, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, whose health and performance are critical to avoiding a 3-1 deficit.

But will their presence alone be enough to stem the tide?

Game 3 was a wake-up call. The Clippers ran the Nuggets off the floor 117-83, seizing a 2-1 series lead. Denver’s offense looked stuck in the mud, their defense crumbled early, and Nikola Jokic, despite a triple-double, looked every bit the exhausted MVP candidate carrying a battered squad. With Game 4 looming on Saturday, the Nuggets’ margin for error is now razor-thin.

Nuggets’ injury report: Jokic and Murray in, questions elsewhere

Thankfully for Denver fans, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic aren’t listed on the injury report. Both are expected to start and play their full roles against the Clippers.

However, trouble lurks elsewhere on the roster. Rookie DaRon Holmes II remains out with a torn right Achilles, a season-long absence that deprives Denver of frontcourt depth. Michael Porter Jr.’s (shoulder) status is also questionable—a major concern given Denver’s dire need for scoring and spacing. Denver must also monitor Russell Westbrook’s status carefully. He’s officially questionable for Game 4. Without his energy off the bench, Denver’s already-thin second unit faces even more pressure.

The Clippers, meanwhile, report no injuries, with Leonard and Harden firing on all cylinders.

From champions to chasers? Nuggets’ last stand against Clippers’ surge

Game 3 exposed glaring cracks in Denver’s armor. Now, with the series on the brink, both teams are poised to make critical adjustments—and for the Nuggets, the urgency couldn’t be clearer.

Nikola Jokic knows the blueprint, but living it out is another battle. After the blowout loss, Jokic reflected, “Maybe I should be [more aggressive], maybe I shouldn’t. But I think as long as we are having open looks, we need to be satisfied.” It was a diplomatic answer—but behind it lies a harder truth.

Because when the Clippers crank up the pressure, as they did in Game 3, the Nuggets need their MVP to shift gears—attack the rim, force doubles, draw fouls, and tilt the gravity of the defense. Jokic has done it before in critical moments, like his 53-point explosion against Phoenix in Game 4 in 2023. Denver needs that assertive version now—not in the second half when they’re down 20, but from the opening tip.

Defensive discipline was another silent killer. Jokic admitted after Game 3, “We just need to be more detailed.” Against a Clippers team that blitzed them with ball movement and corner threes, the Nuggets had too many “my bad” moments—miscommunications on switches, late rotations, poor closeouts.

It only takes a few lapses for a James Harden or Norman Powell to blow a game wide open. Denver’s identity during its 2023 run was built on connected defense and trust. If they want to survive this series, it’s not just about effort—it’s about eliminating the mental mistakes that cost them in Game 3.

Meanwhile, the Clippers’ blueprint for success is now clear. Their Game 3 domination wasn’t an accident; it was a masterclass in pace, spacing, and physicality. Tyronn Lue’s offense played faster than Denver could react, whipping the ball around the perimeter until open shooters surfaced. Harden’s orchestrating was crisp.

Kawhi Leonard’s physicality in the midpost created mismatches. Ivica Zubac, often a footnote in scouting reports, finished with 8-of-12 shooting and outmuscled Jokic inside. It wasn’t just that LA won—it was how easily they made Denver uncomfortable, especially once the second quarter avalanche began.

One wild card remains: how badly Denver wants it. Jokic didn’t mince words postgame: “We cannot back down—we need to attack.” This is a familiar crossroads for the Nuggets. In 2020, they clawed back from two different 3-1 deficits in the bubble, defying odds and exhaustion. This time, however, the stakes are even higher. And Game 4 isn’t just about tying the series. It’s about reclaiming their soul. It’s about showing that the bruises from Game 3 were just scars of a fighter, not cracks in a champion’s armor.