LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray sat out due to injuries on Wednesday night when Denver faced the Los Angeles Lakers, who are still without LeBron James.
Jokic is missing his second straight game with a bruised right elbow, while Murray is also missing his second straight game with a sprained right ankle. The Nuggets' pillars are accounting for a combined 50.6 points, 16.6 rebounds, 16.4 assists and 3.2 steals per game this season.
Jokic and Murray both traveled to Los Angeles and did pregame work in an attempt to play, but ultimately were ruled out. Both stars also sat out the Nuggets' surprising win over Golden State on Monday.
Denver coach Michael Malone on Wednesday profanely defended his team's decision to protect Jokic and Murray against the Warriors before the Nuggets had made the same decision for their game against the Lakers. Malone said Jokic has played the second-most games in the NBA over the past decade.
“If Nikola is not playing, it's not because he needs rest," Malone said. “It's because he's hurt, and he's trying to play through things that most wouldn't, and we're at a point now where we have to do what's best for not only Nikola, but all of our guys as we move forward and try to close out this season. We don't rest guys. If guys miss games, it's because they're unable to go out there and perform at the level that we need them to perform at, and I think it's really important that everybody knows that.”
The 40-year-old James missed his sixth straight game with a hamstring injury. Coach JJ Redick had no update on James' recovery, saying James and fellow injured starter Rui Hachimura (knee), who missed his 11th straight game, are considered day-to-day.
Luka Doncic was active for the Lakers despite his nagging right ankle sprain. He sat out last week when Los Angeles traveled to Denver and nearly beat Jokic, Murray and the Nuggets despite the absence of the Lakers' top two players.
Nuggets guard Christian Braun returned against the Lakers after sitting out Monday with left foot inflammation.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Denver Nuggets trainer Dan Shimensky, center, tends to guard Jamal Murray after an injury in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James watches his teammmates play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in Los Angeles, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic smiles during 114-105 win over Golden State Warriors in NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, March 17, 2025.(Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season, doing so after winning in their 69th game and getting the help they needed elsewhere around the league.
They are the only team since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1979-80 to be the first to clinch after being the last to get in the previous season.
“Our goal was to make the playoffs this year," Ovechkin said after scoring his 888th career goal to help beat Philadelphia 3-2 on Thursday night. "It’s hard. Every game, it’s hard, especially at the end because every team is fighting. That’s why in the beginning of the year and the middle of the year it’s very important to (be) collecting the points and feel comfortable at the end. Last year it took us 82 games to clinch it and since 20 games left last year, it was playoffs for us already. We take it and move on.”
Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, John Carlson and the core of the roster is still intact. Offseason acquisitions of center Pierre-Luc Dubois, wingers Andrew Mangiapane, Taylor Raddysh and Brandon Duhaime, defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy and goaltender Logan Thompson have all worked as well as could be expected.
The Capitals are atop the NHL with 100 points, leading the Eastern Conference by 13 and cruising toward the playoffs.
“It’s been great," Mangiapane said. "Obviously I think we have a really deep team: All four lines are great hockey players, the D pairings, all of them all make plays and our two goalies in net have been awesome. It’s a really deep team, and that’s why I think we’ve been consistent throughout the whole year. Any given day any player could step up and make great plays to help us win games.”
Now seven years removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, Ovechkin, Wilson and Carlson are the only players left from that 2018 championship team. Center Nicklas Backstrom and winger T.J. Oshie have been sidelined by career-ending injuries but have watched closely and marveled at what the Capitals have done this season.
“This team has just been playing outstanding the whole year,” Backstrom said Friday. “I just feel like they have some sort of calmness back there, which you can see every game. There’s never any panic. They’re working for each other, and they’re playing for each other, which is a nice thing to have going into the playoffs.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals left wing Andrew Mangiapane (88) celebrates after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin chases the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) and goaltender Logan Thompson (48) after an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
