Western Conference Showdown: Nuggets Face Warriors Amid Injury Crisis
The NBA Western Conference heats up this Sunday, February 22, 2026, as the Denver Nuggets welcome the Golden State Warriors to Ball Arena. This matchup carries significant implications for the conference standings, with Denver positioned near the top and Golden State fighting to maintain their play-in tournament hopes. Both franchises enter this contest navigating substantial injury challenges that have reshaped their rotations and tactical approaches.
Denver Nuggets: Injury Report and Available Rotation
The Denver Nuggets, while maintaining their core championship pedigree, face notable absences in their guard and wing positions. The team's depth has been tested, though superstar center Nikola Jokić remains available to anchor both offense and defense.
Confirmed Out for Sunday's Game:
- Tamar Bates (Shooting Guard) – Left foot injury
- Aaron Gordon (Power Forward) – Right hamstring strain
- Jalen Pickett (Point Guard) – Right knee soreness
- Peyton Watson (Small Forward) – Right hamstring strain
Questionable:
- Jamal Murray (Point Guard) – Right hamstring tightness
Murray's availability represents the most critical decision point for Denver's coaching staff. His presence would allow the Nuggets to operate their traditional offensive sets, while his absence would necessitate even greater creative responsibility from Jokić, potentially altering Denver's entire offensive flow.
Projected Available Rotation:
- Starters: Nikola Jokić, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Bench Contributors: Jonas Valančiūnas, Zeke Nnaji, Julian Strawther, DaRon Holmes II, Curtis Jones
Golden State Warriors: Injury Report and Available Rotation
The Golden State Warriors confront a more severe injury crisis, missing multiple regular starters and key rotation players. The absence of franchise cornerstone Stephen Curry fundamentally changes their offensive identity and places immense pressure on their remaining veterans.
Confirmed Out for Sunday's Game:
- Stephen Curry (Point Guard) – Knee issue
- Seth Curry (Guard) – Nerve irritation
- Kristaps Porziņģis (Center) – Illness
- Jimmy Butler III (Forward) – ACL injury (season-ending)
- L.J. Cryer (Point Guard), Malevy Leons (Forward), Nate Williams (Guard) – All ruled out
This extensive list forces Golden State into a complete tactical recalibration. Ball-handling duties must be shared collectively, and the team will likely lean heavily on defensive intensity and transition opportunities to generate offense.
Projected Available Rotation:
- Starters: Draymond Green, Al Horford, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton
- Bench Contributors: Gary Payton II, Gui Santos, Quinten Post, Will Richard, Pat Spencer
Head-to-Head Context and Season Form
Recent history favors the Denver Nuggets in this rivalry. Over the past three NBA seasons, Denver holds a commanding 7–2 record against Golden State and leads the all-time series. However, the Warriors claimed victory in their first meeting this season, a thrilling 137–131 overtime win on October 23, 2025, behind a spectacular 42-point performance from Stephen Curry.
Denver Nuggets Current Season (36–21):
- Boasts one of the league's most efficient and potent offenses
- Defensive metrics rank around league average
- Nikola Jokić continues his MVP-level play, averaging a remarkable triple-double with over 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists per game
Golden State Warriors Current Season (29–27):
- Offensive production has significantly declined without Stephen Curry's scoring and playmaking
- Defensive stability has been a relative strength, keeping them in games
- Team maintains a negative scoring margin for the season, highlighting their struggles
Key Matchup Factors and What to Watch
The interior battle presents a clear advantage for Denver. With Porziņģis and Butler unavailable, Jokić should encounter minimal resistance in the paint, allowing him to operate as both scorer and facilitator. If Jamal Murray is sidelined, increased offensive production will be required from Christian Braun, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown to support Jokić's efforts.
Golden State's strategy will revolve around collective ball-handling from De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, and Gary Payton II. Both teams possess the capability to play at a fast pace and shoot effectively from three-point range, though Denver may opt to control tempo and methodically execute through Jokić in half-court sets.
Betting Outlook and Game Prediction
Sportsbooks currently list the Denver Nuggets as approximately 6.5-point favorites for this contest, with the total points line hovering near 230. While Denver faces its own injury concerns, the Warriors' absence of multiple star players, particularly Stephen Curry, appears too significant to overcome. Denver's available roster, anchored by the unparalleled Nikola Jokić, holds the clear advantage in talent and continuity for this pivotal Western Conference clash.
