The Denver Nuggets remain one of the best teams in the NBA despite their past two results being losses, sitting with a 22-10 record. Moving on with their seven-game road trip and looking to avoid a losing streak, the Nuggets close out the 2025 calendar year on the road against the Toronto Raptors.

It was a hot start to the season for the Raptors, who got out to a 14-5 start after going 1-4 in their first five games. They enter Wednesday firmly in the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and look to ride the momentum of wins in their past two contests.

Unfortunately, Denver's injury report continues to add more names every week at this point. Four starters are listed as OUT for the Nuggets, including Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Cameron Johnson (knee), and Nikola Jokic (knee).

After suffering an injury against the Miami Heat in their recent loss, Jokic is now sidelined for several weeks, but luckily avoided a season-ending injury. It was obviously a tough blow for the Nuggets when Braun, Gordon, and Johnson went down, but losing a Hall of Fame-level player and the engine to your offense is a massive blow.

Additionally, Julian Strawther is also on Denver's injury report, listed as PROBABLE with an illness.

The Raptors have some injuries themselves, but are only without one starter as Jakob Poeltl is OUT due to a lower back strain. The other names sidelined for the Raptors include Chucky Hepburn (two-way), A.J. Lawson (two-way), Alijah Martin (two-way), and Jonathan Mogbo (assignment).

For the most part, the Raptors have had strong health this season, getting 33 or 34 games from Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jamal Shead, and Gradey Dick.

Of course, all eyes will be on how the Nuggets and David Adelman adjust with Jokic sidelined. The team does have far more depth than they've had in years past with Jokic, but that doesn't mean it'll be any easier.

As for who will fill in during Jokic's absence, the Nuggets could use a mix of Jonas Valanciunas, Zeke Nnaji, and DaRon Holmes II. However, the most important piece to success without Jokic will be the play of Jamal Murray, who is playing at an All-Star level this season averaging 25.2 points per game.

While Murray would likely prefer to have Jokic on the floor with him, it could give him a boost to make his first All-Star appearance of his career. Tip-off in Toronto is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.