Valanciunas won't start against the Clippers on Friday.
With Nikola Jokic (knee) back in the lineup, Valanciunas will retreat to the bench. The veteran big man has averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game over 32 appearances off the bench this season.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Good to go Friday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is available for Friday's game against the Clippers.
As expected, Valanciunas will shed his probable tag and suit up Friday. The veteran big man has appeared in four outings following an extended absence due to a calf strain. During that stretch, he has averaged 14.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.0 minutes per tilt. However, with Nikola Jokic (knee) back in the lineup, Valanciunas will likely see fewer minutes.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Probable for Friday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is probable for Friday's game against the Clippers.
Valanciunas is expected to play through another probable tag related to his calf injury. He may see a reduced role, however, as Nikola Jokic (knee) is expected back in the lineup Friday.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Will play Thursday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) has been cleared to play Thursday against the Nets.
Valanciunas was trending in the right direction after being listed as probable, and the team has now officially cleared him to take the court Thursday. The big man is fresh off a double-double Tuesday against the Pistons, recording 16 points and 16 rebounds in 31 minutes.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Probable for Thursday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is probable for Thursday's game against the Nets.
Thursday's game will be the first of a back-to-back set, so while Valanciunas is expected to play in that one, he may sit out Friday's game in Utah. Managers can expect to get official confirmation on Valanciunas' status closer to Thursday's tip.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Drops 16 and 16 in defeat
Rotowire
Valanciunas ended with 16 points (6-10 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 16 rebounds, one assist and one block over 31 minutes during Tuesday's 109-107 loss to Detroit.
Valanciunas had one of his best games of the season in just his second game back from a calf injury that sidelined him for three weeks. His 16 rebounds were a season-best, while his 16 points were just one shy of his best scoring performance this year. He played 31 minutes, which is a good indicator of his recovery from that calf injury.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Available to play
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is available for Tuesday's game versus Detroit.
Valanciunas is back after a one-game absence, which will likely shift Zeke Nnaji back to the second unit, and DaRon Holmes could drop from the rotation entirely. Over two starts this season, Valanciunas has averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 swats per game.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Expected to play
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is probable for Tuesday's game versus Detroit.
After getting a night off Friday against the Bucks related to maintenance, Valanciunas will likely reclaim his spot with the starters. He will be a popular streaming option until Nikola Jokic (knee) gets the green light to return.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is questionable to play Sunday in Memphis.
Valanciunas returned from an 11-game layoff in a win over the Wizards on Thursday but then hit the sidelines for Friday's win in Milwaukee, with that game coming as the second leg of a back-to-back set. If he needs to miss Sunday's game in Memphis, that would indicate he suffered a setback, but we'll have a better idea on Valanciunas' status following shootaround.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Ruled out Friday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Bucks.
Valanciunas returned from an 11-game absence due to a right calf strain in Thursday's win over Washington, though he'll be held out of the second leg of this back-to-back set. The veteran big man's next opportunity to play will come Sunday against the Grizzlies. In the meantime, Zeke Nnaji will likely see increased minutes, while DaRon Holmes could enter the Denver rotation.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Iffy for Friday
Rotowire
Valanciunas is questionable for Friday's game against the Bucks with his right calf strain.
Valanciunas played in his first game since Dec. 31 on Thursday against Toronto, finishing with 16 points (6-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), nine rebounds and two assists across 22 minutes. This questionable tag does not mean he suffered a setback, as it's common practice for players to get a maintenance day in situations like these, with this being the second leg of a back-to-back set. Zeke Nnaji could find himself with a larger role if Valanciunas is held out.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Returns with 16 points
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) recorded 16 points (6-13 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), nine rebounds and two assists across 22 minutes Thursday in the Nuggets' 107-97 win over the Wizards.
After straining his right calf in a Dec. 31 win over the Raptors, Valanciunas had been projected to miss about a month before being re-evaluated, but he ended up returning just over a week earlier than anticipated. Though the Nuggets kept Valanciunas' minutes in check in his return, he moved straight into the starting five and delivered a respectable line. Valanciunas could be a candidate to rest in the second leg of a back-to-back set Friday in Milwaukee, but he looks like he'll be in line for a regular 20-plus-minute role on the top unit in the short term until the Nuggets get Nikola Jokic (knee) back in the fold.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Starting Thursday
Rotowire
Valanciunas will start Thursday versus the Wizards, Katy Winge of Altitude Sports reports.
Valanciunas will replace DaRon Holmes in the first unit for Thursday's game, and he'll be joined by Jamal Murray, Jalen Pickett, Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon. In Valanciunas' previous start this season, he finished with 17 points (5-6 FG, 7-8 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, three blocks and one turnover in 23 minutes.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Will play Thursday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is available for Thursday's game against the Wizards.
Valanciunas is available to play for the first time since Dec. 31 due to a calf strain. The veteran center could have a minutes restriction, but his return should have a negative impact on the minutes of Zeke Nnaji and DaRon Holmes.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Expected to play Thursday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is expected to play Thursday versus the Wizards, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports.
This will be Valanciunas' first game since Dec. 31, so he'll likely have some minutes restrictions, but his return will likely result in less playing time for DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji. While Valanciunas may be brought along slowly, he'll have a ton of opportunity while Nikola Jokic (knee) is out, so make sure he's not floating around on your waiver wire.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Upgraded to questionable
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Wizards.
The Nuggets announced Jan. 1 that Valanciunas would be sidelined for at least four weeks due to a right calf strain, but it sounds like he could return a week earlier than expected. With Nikola Jokic (knee) still sidelined, Valanciunas would have a lot of appeal as a streaming option if he can get the green light to play.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Out for at least four weeks
Rotowire
Valanciunas will be re-evaluated in four weeks due to a right calf strain that he suffered during the Nuggets' 106-103 win over the Raptors on Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
The Nuggets are now down both of their top big men, with Valanciunas joining Nikola Jokic (knee) on the shelf. Valanciunas made his first start of the season Wednesday and was slated to take on a larger role in the absence of Jokic, but with both of them now sidelined, the Nuggets will turn to DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji to fill in the gap at center.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Won't play Friday
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) won't play Friday against the Cavaliers.
It's not a surprise to see this news after Valanciunas left Wednesday's game early with a calf strain, although the severity of the issue remains unclear. With Nikola Jokic (knee) already out for several weeks, the Nuggets will need guys like DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji to step up.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Unable to return
Rotowire
Valanciunas (calf) did not return to Wednesday's game against the Raptors. He finished with 17 points (5-6 FG, 7-8 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and three blocks in 23 minutes.
Valanciunas started this game for Nikola Jokic (knee) with Denver's franchise player expected to miss several weeks. Valanciunas started hot, but he suffered a calf strain and hobbled to the locker room, never to return -- he was deemed questionable to return to the floor. If the big man ends up missing time, the Nuggets will likely turn to DaRon Holmes after he put in a productive shift to close this game out.
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Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas: Questionable to return
Rotowire
Valanciunas is questionable to return to Wednesday's game against the Raptors with a right calf strain, Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette reports.
The Nuggets can't seem to catch a break, as Valanciunas started this game in the absence of the injured Nikola Jokic (knee). If Valanciunas ends up missing time, DaRon Holmes is the next man up at center for the Nuggets.
