Denver Nuggets DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) has been downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday's contest against Portland. A left ankle injury brings an end to Murray's run of 13 consecutive appearances. Reggie Jackson should take over as the starting point guard. The veteran has had 16.1 points and 5.4 assists in 16 previous starts this season. However, there's a good chance we see him being even more involved in the offense on Saturday because Nikola Jokic (back) will also skip the game.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (back) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against Portland. The team has downgraded him from a questionable status. Jokic sits out only his third game of the season. With backup center Zeke Nnaji (groin) also unavailable, we should see DeAndre Jordan moving to the starting unit, while Peyton Watson could be in for a busy night as a small-ball center. Denver is still expected to dominate the matchup, giving bench guys like Watson a chance to make a significant mark in the game.

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook (hand) is expected to be back in the lineup next week. Sources have told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Westbrook's return might even come as soon as Monday versus Indiana. The former MVP is recovering from a fractured hand suffered on March 1 in a matchup against Washington. Westbrook has been one of the most productive bench players in the league this season, putting up 11.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists. There could be fireworks from Westbrook straight away in his first game back, as Indiana games are usually played at a very high pace and tend to be high-scoring affairs.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (ankle) is questionable heading into Saturday's game in Portland. He tweaked his ankle during Thursday's 113-100 win over the New York Knicks. However, head coach Mike Malone didn't seem too concerned. With that in mind, the Nuggets' subsequent two contests are against some of the worst teams in the National Basketball Association, so Murray may not be back until Wednesday's matchup with the Phoenix Suns. But until he's cleared to play, Reggie Jackson, averaging 16.1 points and 5.4 assists in 16 starts this season, could be an attractive fantasy option for DFS managers, even more so if Nikola Jokic (back, hip) is also ruled out.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (back, hip) is questionable for Saturday's game in Portland. The back injury isn't anything new. But the hip issue is somewhat concerning. However, the multi-time MVP has only missed two games this season, so Saturday's meeting with one of the worst teams in the NBA is a good time to get a night off. With Zeke Nnaji (back) already ruled out, DeAndre Jordan might get some action in the middle. Jordan has started just one game this season, finishing with 21 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and one block. With production like that, he'll see more than his share of attention from DFS managers looking for a value opportunity.