Jeremy Sochan's update & other injuries for Spurs and Nuggets tonight

Just when we thought the injury bug left the Silver and Black alone, it spun the block for another dance. When Jeremy Sochan went down during the Clippers game a few nights ago, it prompted a grotesque flashback to November 4 when he injured his left hand. He missed the rest of that game, and San Antonio's 26-point lead evaporated into a 10-point loss.

What followed was worse, as Sochan was forced to miss a couple of weeks of action, and while the Spurs had a bit of success, it was up and down. The Polish Prince was missed, and unfortunately, they'll have to go at it again without his presence. Sochan has been ruled out of the first of two back-to-back games against Denver, but the Nuggets will also field a compromised rotation.

Spurs injuries

Jeremy Sochan - Out (Back)

Nuggets injuries

Aaron Gordon - Out (Calf)

Nuggets are just as dangerous as ever

Denver got off to a rough start this season, but they've figured out their formula after integrating former MVP Russell Westbrook. They have won seven of their last ten games, placing them fourth in the Western Conference. They're on a three-game win streak, and the Spurs will need to be ready to battle in the Mile High City against not just the players but the altitude.

Nikola Jokic is having another MVP-level season, and Jamal Murray has woken up after sleepwalking for the past year. They'll be without an important source of physicality without Aaron Gordon but they still play hard, and if San Antonio comes out flat, they could find themselves in an insurmountable hole.

If the last game was any indication of what's to come, the Spurs will get off to a fast start. Victor Wembanyama attacked the Clippers with his entire arsenal from the opening tip, putting LA behind early, and they never recovered. But this is a different animal. The Clippers didn't have their superstar, Kawhi Leonard, though he likely wouldn't have made enough of a difference in a 36-point loss.

Wemby is playing at an extremely high level, especially for a 20-year-old. He'll be 21 tomorrow, but until then, we're going to milk the "under 21" stats as much as we can.

The last time the Silver and Black played the Nuggets was April 12 last season. The Spurs pulled out a one-point victory after a third-quarter explosion from Wembanyama. They didn't have Jeremy Sochan in that game either, and they'll have to do it again. Fortunately, they'll have Devin Vassell, who missed the last Denver matchup.

The Spurs rolled out a starting lineup of Wemby, Tre Jones, Blake Wesley, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Julian Champagnie in April. It's currently uncertain which way acting head coach Mitch Johnson will go with Sochan out tonight, but if he rolls with Stephon Castle like he did earlier this season when Jeremy missed time, the Spurs would be rolling out a completely new lineup besides Wembanyama.

This team has gone through way more injury adversity than any team should, but they've proven that they will fight, regardless of who is in the lineup. So Nikola Jokic better be ready to put on another performance for the ages, because it seems like Wembanyama enjoys challenges like this, and Spurs fans expect the Alien to show up and be extra-extraterrestrial tonight.