Jonas

Valančiūnas

The Nuggets are once again without Cameron Johnson, but they’re going a bit younger to fill the void this time around. Nnaji moves into the starting lineup, replacing Jonas Valančiūnas. Denver’s other four starters are unchanged.

Johnson will miss a second straight game with this ankle injury. Jonas Valančiūnas started in his place on Monday and logged 17 minutes. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. ended up seeing the largest role increase, with both logging 32 minutes off the bench. Johnson could return to take on the Knicks on Friday,

Johnson did not play in Monday’s win over the Jazz, which moved Jonas Valančiūnas into the starting lineup. However, JV played only 17 minutes, which isn’t enough time for him to impact fantasy basketball, especially with Nikola Jokić available.

With no Cameron Johnson (ankle), the Nuggets decided to slide Valančiūnas into the starting lineup. And Monday’s game was the first in which Valančiūnas started alongside Nikola Jokić. The veteran center was solid in his 17 minutes, with Bruce Brown (4/3/4/1) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (7/6/1 with one three-pointer) each playing 30 minutes off the bench. Even if Johnson isn’t available for Thursday’s game against the Lakers and Valančiūnas gets another start, JV’s unlikely to get the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball with a healthy Jokić in the lineup.

The Nuggets won’t have Cameron Johnson (ankle) for Monday’s game, which frees up a spot in the starting lineup. They’ve decided to go big, with Valančiūnas joining the starters. Since Murray and Jokić are also available, JV offers limited fantasy upside.

Jokić was supposedly still under a minutes restriction on Wednesday. Due to the combination of the game requiring two overtimes and Jonas Valančiūnas (two points, three rebounds and two assists) struggling with foul trouble, the three-time MVP’s restriction appeared to be nothing more than a suggestion. Jokić played 44 of a possible 58 minutes, recording his 17th triple-double of the season. There was an injury scare during the first quarter when The Joker hit the floor with a left leg injury, but he was able to return. The lone issue for him was three-point shooting, with Jokić going 1-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Jokić made his long-awaited return to the Nuggets’ lineup on Friday, needing just 25 minutes to put up 31 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a win over the Clippers. He’ll likely be under a similar minutes restriction on Sunday, but the three-time MVP does not need to log heavy minutes to record an elite stat line. If Jokić can’t play, Jonas Valančiūnas would be the replacement in the starting lineup.

Valančiūnas was initially listed as probable with a calf injury, so his availability isn’t a surprise. With Nikola Jokic (knee) returning from injury, though, Valančiūnas will head back to the bench and lose most of his fantasy value.

Jokić is set to return after being sidelined with a knee injury he suffered in a December 29 loss to the Heat. Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters the 30-year-old center will start and be on a minutes restriction. Jokić’s return is a welcomed sight for fantasy managers. Jonas Valanciunas will move to the bench and lose most of his fantasy value with the three-time MVP back in the starting lineup.

While Valančiūnas did not play both games of the Nuggets’ most recent back-to-back, he appears to be on track to play Friday night after logging 25 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Nets. With Nikola Jokić (knee) possibly returning on Friday, the Nuggets may be able to keep JV’s minutes down simply by having the three-time MVP in the lineup.