Denver Nuggets vs Utah Jazz: preview and player stats (Dec 12, 2026)

Strawther (knee) was diagnosed with a left knee sprain Friday and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports. Strawther suffered the injury in Wednesday's preseason game against the Clippers. The 24-year-old has appeared in 172 regular-season games for the Nuggets since entering the league in 2023, averaging 7.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 16.2 minutes per contest. He was in line to compete for an expanded role during the 2026-27 campaign. While that may be the case once Strawther is cleared to suit up, Tyus Jones and potentially Ryan Nembhard are candidates to receive more minutes in the interim.

Injury/Illness - Right Hand Fracture (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA). Prior reporting (2026-11-11): Markkanen has been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least one month, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Markkanen has missed two straight games due to what was being described as a right wrist sprain, but it appears the issue was much worse than initially thought. The talented big man now joins Jusuf Nurkic (foot) and Jaren Jackson (knee) on Utah's long-term injury list, while Keyonte George's status moving forward is unclear while dealing with an ankle sprain. Given all of the injuries, Ace Bailey and Darryn Peterson will have to lead the offense, while Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailiuk, Josh Okogie and Josh Green are candidates for increased roles.

Injury/Illness - Right MCL Tear (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA). Prior reporting (2026-10-27): Jackson has been diagnosed with a torn MCL in his right knee and will be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks, per Shams Charania of ESPN. Jackson sustained the injury early in Monday's loss to Memphis, and he's now expected to miss at least a month and a half of action. The star big man's absence creates a major void in the Utah lineup, one that is likely to be filled by a timeshare of Jaxson Hayes (shoulder), Kyle Filipowski and Mo Bamba. The Jazz could also shift Lauri Markkanen (wrist), when healthy, to the center spot at times, perhaps allowing Ace Bailey to spend more time at power forward.

Injury/Illness - Left Knee Strain (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA). Prior reporting (2026-11-15): Hayes (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Spurs. Hayes left Friday's game against the Rockets with the knee issue, and it will now sideline him for Sunday's tilt versus San Antonio. Mo Bamba will likely join the starting unit while Tony Bradley and Kyle Filipowski should earn more playing time off the bench.

Injury/Illness - Right 2nd Plantar Plate Tear (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA). Prior reporting (2026-11-06): Nurkic (toe) has begun participating in on-court activities as he continues recovering from a right foot injury sustained during an Oct. 4 preseason game against Denver. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the Jazz announced Friday. Nurkic is progressing in his recovery, but the two-week re-evaluation timeline indicates he remains some distance from returning to game action. His absence should continue to create opportunities in Utah's frontcourt, with Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba among the players positioned to benefit from additional playing time. Nurkic's next evaluation will provide a clearer picture of his potential return date.

G League - Two-Way (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA).

G League - Two-Way (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA).

G League - Two-Way (2026-11-15, SAS@UTA). Prior reporting (2026-11-12): Alexander won't play Wednesday against the Grizzlies due to a left knee bone bruise. Alexander sat out Friday's preseason finale with what the team initially described as a left knee injury, but we now know he's dealing with a bone bruise. Don't be surprised if Alexander misses Friday's game against the Pelicans as well.