After taking a 3-2 series deficit, the Denver Nuggets picked up a huge Game 6 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to keep their season alive and force a Game 7.

The Nuggets are in a challenging spot heading into Game 7, as they have played more games than any other team this postseason, and it is starting to show. Heading into Sunday’s Game 7, the Nuggets have listed two key players on their injury report.

The Nuggets have listed both Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook on the injury report for their win-or-go-home Game 7. Westbrook has been listed as probable for Sunday’s game due to a right hand sprain.

Westbrook came out firing in the second round against his former team, scoring 18 and 19 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively. Since then, Westbrook has cooled down, averaging just 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists through the last four games with 25.7/16.7/62.5 shooting splits.

Even through his offensive struggles, the Nuggets have desperately needed their 36-year-old point guard as a bench spark with hustle plays and defensive intensity.

Many fans have taken to social media to react to Westbrook’s new status for Sunday’s Game 7.

“No way Russ sits out this game,” one fan commented.

“We know Russ playing until he physically can’t,” another fan said.

“He not missing this,” a fan replied.

The Nuggets and Thunder are set to face off in Oklahoma City for Game 7 on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET, and Denver is certainly hoping that Westbrook is good to suit up.

After their win against the South Pittsburgh Hooligans, the Denver Highlanders are advancing to the final four in the DIII USA Club Rugby XVs National Championships.

CBS Colorado caught up with Derek Smith and the rest of the team at practice this week as they prepare to face off against the Scottsdale Blues Saturday at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis.

“Once we won the championship for Rocky Mountain Rugby, I was like [exhale] ‘There’s a chance,’” said Smith. “I didn’t work this hard just to get second.”

He said there are a lot of great teams in Colorado, but the Highlanders’ mix of younger and more experienced players has been doing particularly well this season. Smith himself is a seasoned rugby player.

“I played football in high school. I played football at a small college,” said Smith. “But then I found the sport of rugby, [and] I’m like, ‘Oh, I can still hit people, and legally, and don’t have to play American football anymore? I can just play rugby? All I need’s a mouthpiece? That’s great!’”

There are a lot of reasons he loves the game. Smith said rugby combines the continuity of soccer with the contact of American football. American football and rugby have more in common than some might realize.

Smith explained, “So, historically, the reason it’s called a touchdown in football [is], in rugby, you have to touch the ball down to score a ‘try.’” A try is scored when the ball is grounded in the opposition’s in-goal area.

Another thing Smith loves is the respect the players have for each other.

He said, “The most respect, typically, [is given] to the referees. We don’t talk back. We say ‘thank you, yes sir, no sir,’ and that’s what I love about it. It’s the idea of respect for us and the other people playing the sport. Because we pay money to beat each other up.”

After certain infringements, or when the ball is unplayable, players will pack closely together with their heads down in what’s called a ‘scrum,’ attempting to gain possession of the ball. Smith said it’s important to have a good ‘sir’ to keep things safe.

“Sometimes the older guys that have been doing it a while, they try to get away with some stuff to be cheeky, if you will. So, you have to have a good ‘sir,’ or referee, that’s really kind of watching that scrum to make sure we keep it up and they keep it safe,” he said.

“And the scrum. They call it the ‘dark arts.’ It’s one big man hug. So, those guys in the front, the ‘props,’ they’re just trying to push each other back straight,” Smith explained.

Smith said this may be his last year, and he’s been training hard.

“I’ve been training for this, you know, working out in my classroom as a school teacher, and the kids think I’m crazy. I guess I am a little bit,” he said with a laugh. “Forty-two years old, two small kids, this is my last go full-time, so I’d love to go out on top.”

Saturday’s game starts at 8:30 a.m. MST and will stream live on the Mid-America Rugby Union YouTube channel. The winner of Saturday’s match-up will face the winner of the game between the Columbia Rhinos and the Rocky Gorge on Sunday.

A crash involving a Regional Transportation District bus and another vehicle near Havana Street and 47th Avenue in Denver caused serious injuries and blocked traffic Friday morning, police say.

The crash on the border between Denver’s Montbello and Central Park neighborhoods had closed both directions of Havana and westbound 47th when it was announced by police at 6:46 a.m. Denver7 reported that the bus was operated by RTD, and there were two passengers and a driver inside at the time of the crash.

Denver police did not immediately respond to questions about the circumstances of the crash and the number and extent of injuries.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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Originally Published: May 16, 2025 at 9:51 AM MDT