Let me get this straight.

The Denver Nuggets are now down three games to two after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 125-113, at the Pepsi Center last night.

But Minnesota was without the injured Anthony Edwards (knee), the injured Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), and Naz Reid, who left the game with an injury after just 12 minutes.

Meaning, if the injured Aaron Gordon can return for Game Six, the Nuggets can force a Game Seven, allowing the return of the injured Peyton Watson.

• The Timberwolves went from a gentleman’s sweep to seeing gentle men weep.

• Anthony Edwards has a hyperextended knee, while the Nuggets are hyped that the series has been extended to Game Six.

• Donte DiVincenzo went from tearing up the Nuggets’ defense to tearing up his Achilles.

• DiVincenzo is one-man, fast break.

• Is it the Playoffs or Play-OFS (Out for Season)?

• Coach said to run the Pick and Roll, not the Pick and Roll on the ground.

• And Naz Reid is injured as well? Does the NBA now stand for Nursing Bad Ankles?

The Nuggets’ situation isn’t much better.

• Aaron Gordon missed Game Five after being listed as a GTD (Game Time Decision). Just like he was listed in games one through four, all 82 games previously, and probably for the rest of his career.

• Hey, Aaron Gordon! Tightening up on D is not supposed to refer to your left calf.

• Peyton Watson’s estimated return to the court is April 30, but for a while, it looked like Nikola Jokic’s estimated return to Serbia was April 28.

• I’m going to say it. Without Peyton Watson, the Nuggets seem a little hamstrung.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets were supposed to roll the Los Angeles Lakers without the injured Luka Doncic and the injured Austin Reaves. But Houston’s Kevin Durant missed multiple games due to injury, leaving the team short of ball-handlers due to the absence of the injured Fred VanVleet, and now the Lakers are up three games to one.

• Looks like Austin Reaves may play in Game Five after missing time with a sore oblique. Which makes the Rockets’ chances of winning – sort of bleak.

• Kevin Durant is GTG for Game Five, meaning Good to Go. No, wait, I guess it means Game to Game, so I guess we will have to see.

• Why is Kevin Durant out again? First-degree blisters from his burner account?

Credit via WKRN

• I thought LeBron was the wine drinker, but apparently, Houston is enjoying the Injured Reserve these days. Comes in red and white.

• Quite a cast of characters, literally.

Victor Wembanyama suffered a nasty concussion in Game Two, but returned for Game Four, as the San Antonio Spurs took a three games to one lead over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Credit via Facebook

• I can’t remember if I predicted a San Antonio sweep or not, but after that concussion, neither can Wemby.

• It’s too bad that the Trail Blazers don’t have Damian Lillard available, AKA Dame Time. Although lately he’s been more Game Time, as in Decision.

The Oklahoma Thunder ended up sweeping the Phoenix Suns, four games to one, but lost Jalen Williams for a while with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.

• How good are the Oklahoma Thunder when they can replace the injured 6’8 Jalen Williams with the not-so-injured 6’8 Jaylin Williams?

• Injuries are so prevalent in these playoffs that the Suns’ Jordan Goodwin plays with a protective face mask due to a nasal fracture and jaw injury, and yet still missed Game Four due to a bad calf.

It probably should have been the Golden State Warriors playing OKC, and not the Suns, anyway.

If Moses Moody (torn tendon) didn’t injure himself, Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) wasn’t out for the season, Kristaps Porzingis (illness) was a bit healthier, and Steph Curry (knee) wasn’t playing hurt, it could’ve been Golden State being swept instead.

• Is Steve Kerr running the Triangle, or triage?

The Boston Celtics, up three games to one, seem to be the obvious choice considering that injured Joel Embiid missed the first three games, and the injured Jason Tatum miraculously continued his comeback.

Credit via NBA

• I did win my prop bet on Joel Embiid after he returned to play in Game Four. I wagered that Embiid was so broken that someone would need to prop him up.

• Sorry, Joel. You are about to be eliminated from the playoffs, and you just missed qualifying for NBA Honors by 72 games or so.

The Orlando Magic are up a surprising three games to one over the Detroit Pistons.

• The only injury to report is that Orlando’s Johnathan Isaac is considered doubtful for Game Five.

Credit via Wikipedia

That’s funny. I’ve been doubting him since Orlando took him with the 6th overall pick in 2017.

The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers are tied at two games each.

• The question is, how quickly can Immanuel Quickly come back from his hamstring injury?

And CJ McCollum is absolutely killing it as the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are tied at two games apiece.

Just think. If McCollum were still on the Washington Wizards, he would have been placed on the Injury Report months ago, whether he was healthy or not.

It’s kind of like if you have players on the Injury Report, and you didn’t make the playoffs, you’re probably faking. And if you have players on the Injury Report, and you did make the playoffs, you’re probably f**ked.

Go Nuggets!

Images via WKRN, AP News, Wikipedia, Facebook, NBA

Alan Tapley Colorado Sports & Culture Writer

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years. His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship