The Denver Nuggets were without their best player for a second consecutive night.

Nikola Jokic was ruled out prior to Wednesday night’s game against the Clippers due to an illness. He started the day listed as questionable. The three-time Most Valuable Player first popped up on the injury report on Tuesday ahead of Denver’s 118-106 loss to the Celtics at Ball Arena. Jokic was not on the court for his regular pregame shooting session and was seen leaving the arena 90 minutes before tipoff Tuesday.

Prior to Tuesday’s game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jokic “wasn’t feeling great” at Monday’s practice and felt even worse Tuesday. 

Dario Saric started in his place, but Zeke Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan also got minutes against Boston. The trio combined to go 0 of 5 from the field with six rebounds. Jordan scored the group’s only point and grabbed five of those rebounds. The lack of production led Malone to use Peyton Watson at center in a small-ball lineup at times.

“You just have guys like DJ and Dario, who are pros. They’ve been around the league,” Malone said prior to Wednesday’s game. “Then, some of our other players, they’ve been out there in a lot of different positions. I give Peyton Watson, a young player, a lot of credit. He’s been a three for us. He’s been a power forward. He’s been playing center for us, as of late. That’s the mindset – whatever it takes to get a win.”

Jordan started Wednesday’s game to match up with Clippers big man Ivica Zubac.

The Nuggets have already ruled out Aaron Gordon for Wednesday’s game against the Clippers. He will miss an eighth consecutive game with a right calf strain. Vlatko Cancar and DaRon Holmes II remain out for the Nuggets.

“When Nikola is out and Aaron (is out) you’re having guys step into roles that they maybe would not be accustomed to,” Malone said. “Last night, against a really good team, the defending champs, I thought we gave ourselves a chance.”

The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard. The six-time All-Star and two-time Finals MVP made his season debut Saturday after missing the start of the season with what the team called right knee injury recovery, but he has reportedly stepped away from the team to help his family affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.  Clippers coach Ty Lue said Leonard had his support to head home.

“We know that we have a game we have to play, that we want to win,” Lue said. “Just give everything we’ve got. … It’s hard to put things like this behind you when so many people are affected, but it’s something we’ve got to try to do tonight. It’s going to be tough. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to do it or not, but we’ve got to go out there and compete at a high level and give it everything we’ve got.”

Malone said he checked with Russell Westbrook, a Los Angeles native. Westbrook said his neighborhood is not currently in the path of the fire.