The Denver Nuggets will arrive at Madison Square Garden on Sunday missing one of their key players and fresh off a meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers, or at least what was left of the 76ers.
The two teams, to varying degrees, are victims of the COVID-19 virus and the health and safety protocols put in place by the NBA. And as the concerns spread throughout the league, the Knicks are well aware that avoiding the risks not only protects their health but also their chances of making their way through the schedule.
While the 76ers were down to seven healthy players for Saturday’s game against the Nuggets — injured Mike Scott also will be in uniform, giving Philadelphia the NBA-minimum eight players available, but will not play — after the positive COVID test for Seth Curry on Thursday in Brooklyn, Denver is without Michael Porter Jr.