The Nuggets just survived a playoff dogfight with Nikola Jokic tossing up bricks like he was building a house, and still walked out with the dub. Now, picture what happens if the big fella actually remembers he’s a two-time MVP. Add a fully locked-in Jamal Murray, some clutch AG moments, and sneaky impact from the bench? So now the big question on everyone’s mind: Will Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray be ready to deliver? Let’s take a look at the latest injury updates and what’s at stake for the Nuggets as they aim to push forward in the playoffs.

Game 3 wasn’t exactly the clinic you’d expect from a team with championship aspirations. Denver pulled out a 113-104 overtime win, but it wasn’t pretty. Jokic was off, shooting 8-for-25 and going 0-for-10 from deep, which… yeah, we don’t need that in Game 4. Murray showed up big, dropping 27 points and looking like himself again, but the Thunder weren’t exactly rolling over. It was tight, there were 8 lead changes in the fourth, and OKC was this close to making things even uglier. Denver survived, but now they’ve got to clean it up.

Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray: In or Out for Game 4?

Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray are both suiting up for Game 4. No cryptic injury reports, no last-minute drama. Jokić is available and ready to go, even if he’s still trying to erase that 0-for-10 eyesore. Sure, the MVP candidate still threw up a 20-16-6 line, but that shot selection? Rough. If Denver’s going to keep the upper hand in this suddenly gritty series, Jokic needs to dial it back in and stick to what works.

Meanwhile, Jamal Murray has been the calming presence in all this chaos. He dropped 27 in the last game, there’s no hamstring issue hanging over him anymore, and he looks like the most locked-in guy on the roster. The stars are healthy and ready, but this series won’t be won by them alone.

With the full roster available outside of rookie DaRon Holmes II (shoulder injury, out since Feb. 23), the Nuggets head into Game 4 with their depth intact. That matters because in Game 3, it wasn’t just Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray doing the heavy lifting. It was the supporting cast that saved the day when the MVP couldn’t.

Denver Nuggets Depth Chart vs OKC Thunder Game 4

Here’s a look at Denver’s Game 4 depth chart, with a full-strength roster ready to go:

This kind of depth is exactly what helped Denver survive Game 3—even with Nikola Jokic struggling and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doing Shai things (at least until crunch time). And it might just be the key to flipping the series for good.

Both stars had forgettable nights. But the difference? Denver, for once, didn’t collapse when Jokic was off. His teammates lifted him up. They outscored OKC 11–2 in overtime. The defense swarmed. The offense clicked. The moment flipped.

“It was so close, we just had to hang in there,” said Michael Porter Jr. “Once we got into overtime, we knew we had the momentum.”

Nikola Jokic’s line—20 points, 16 boards, six dimes—looked fine on paper. But eight turnovers, missed bunnies, and a 0-for-10 from deep told the real story.

“Just an awful NBA night,” joked interim coach David Adelman. “Just keep shooting the ball.”

Jamal Murray played like the best Canadian on the court—not the one in the MVP race. He dropped 27 points, eight assists, and four steals in 48 minutes. Add a game-sealing strip and layup in OT? Yeah, he’s locked in. Then there’s Aaron Gordon. Down three with 28 seconds left, it wasn’t Murray or Jokic taking the shot. It was AG. Splash. Game tied. OT. He kept making plays—22 points, eight boards, five assists—and is quickly becoming Denver’s playoff heartbeat. And don’t sleep on Christian Braun. His defense on Shai late, plus Julian Strawther’s minutes, gave Denver the grit it needed to close.

So, what’s next? Shai will bounce back—he said it himself. Jalen Williams already looks ready to take over. But right now, the Nuggets lead 2–1 with a shot to go up 3–1 at home.

Denver’s depth, health, and ability to win ugly without their MVP shining? That’s a terrifying recipe. If Nikola Jokic finds his groove again? That’s a wrap. Game 4. Ball Arena. Sunday afternoon. The Ex-champs have a shot to take over—this time, at full power.