The Chiefs finally departed from Kansas City International Airport for their game in Denver on Saturday after spending about four hours stranded on the tarmac amid an ice storm that blanketed the region ahead of an impending blizzard.

The Chiefs tried to move up the flight as the weather, which had been predicted all week, bared down on them. But the plane they were expected to use was delayed in arriving, so the team had to stick with its mid-afternoon departure, and just before it took off, airport officials announced that all flight operations were suspended due to “rapid ice accumulation”.

There was a brief break between the line of ice that had glazed Kansas City and the arrival of heavy snow, which was expected to last all of Sunday. That provided enough time to de-ice the plane, clear the runway and get the Chiefs off the ground.

Their chartered jet was the first to depart once airport operations resumed. The team’s X post, showing players exiting the plane, was timestamped at 8.25pm CT.

The Chiefs (15-1) have clinched the No 1 seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye, rendering their regular-season finale moot for them. But the game has significant meaning for Denver, which could clinch their own playoff berth with a win.

Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he planned to rest quarterback Patrick Mahomes, meaning backup Carson Wentz will get the start. The Chiefs also declared right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) and running back Isiah Pacheco (ribs) out, while stars such as defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce were expected to get the game off.

The Chiefs will have to wait to find out their playoff opponent. The earliest they would play in the divisional round is 18 January.

Denver is expanding its homeless shelter offerings Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning, as cold weather and snow threaten residents sleeping outdoors.

The city faces a 50% chance of snow Monday night, with temperatures expected to fall as low as 19, followed by more snow Tuesday and an overnight low of 11, according to the National Weather Service.

Individual men seeking shelter should go to the Denver Rescue Mission Lawrence Street Community Center at 2222 Lawrence St., while individual women can find shelter through Samaritan House at 2301 Lawrence St.

Teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 20 can shelter at Urban Peak, located at 1630 S. Acoma St. Families looking for shelter can call Denver’s Connection Center at 303-295-3366.

Other spaces offering shelter include the Stone Creek shelter, formerly the Best Western hotel, at 4595 Quebec St. as well as city facilities at 2601 W. 7th Ave. and 375 S. Zuni St. Additional overflow shelter will be available through the St. Charles Recreation Center at 3777 Lafayette St.

While the expansion of shelter offerings is scheduled to last from 1 p.m. Monday through 11 a.m. Wednesday, Denver’s Department of Housing Stability wrote in a news release that “an additional extension may be possible pending future weather forecasts.”

Snow is also likely Saturday night and possible Sunday morning in Denver, with forecasters projecting one to two inches of accumulation and an overnight low of 16.

Winning streaks, no matter how modest, have a way of turning heads. After all, winning doesn’t just mask flaws— for a young team it can serve as a megaphone for potential. For the Spurs, riding the wave of a two-game winning streak, Saturday night’s rematch against the Denver Nuggets presents an opportunity to keep the good vibes rolling.

Last night’s victory over the Nuggets was no small feat. Facing a team headlined by Nikola Jokić, the Spurs managed to pull off an upset that featured standout performances from their young core, including—you guessed it—Victor Wembanyama. The rookie sensation’s presence in the paint and versatility on both ends of the floor were instrumental, and if San Antonio hopes to repeat the feat, they’ll likely need another big night from him.

Of course, back-to-back matchups in the NBA often turn into chess matches. Denver will surely make adjustments, particularly after a game where their offense stalled for stretches against a Spurs team that seemed to find its defensive rhythm. Expect Jokić to come out firing, eager to remind everyone why he’s a two-time MVP, and watch for Jamal Murray to step up after a quiet-ish performance last night.

For the Spurs, sustaining momentum means ironing out their weak points. Their defense in transition remains a question mark, and while the bench contributed admirably in the last outing, consistency has been elusive this season. San Antonio’s backup bigs will need to hold the fort when Wembanyama takes a breather, especially against a Denver front-court maestro who can easily punish mismatches.

The Nuggets, for their part, know how to respond to adversity. They’re still a top-tier team, ranking in the NBA’s upper echelon in offensive efficiency (4th in offensive rating, 3rd in scoring) and one off-night isn’t going to derail their championship ambitions.

For now, though, San Antonio has a chance to extend their win streak to three games. Can they stay one step ahead of a determined Denver squad, or will the Nuggets squash the Spurs’ momentum before it really gets rolling?

One thing’s for sure: The Frost Bank Center should be buzzing, and with Wembanyama on the court, anything feels possible.

Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs

January 4th, 2025 | 7:00 CT

Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southwest |Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan – Out (Back)

Nuggets Injuries: Aaron Gordon – Out (Calf), Vlatko Cancar – Out (Knee)

What to watch for

Victor Wembanyama: Winter Terror

By this point, you’ve probably seen the glory that is Wemby’s December stat line, but somehow he’s managed to find yet another gear over the last 10 games, sitting within spitting distance of averaging a 4×5 (29/9/4/4.9) on a 39/49/90 shooting split in just 33 minutes. To say that he’s must-watch television is somehow an understatement right now.

For the Nuggets fan’s perspective, please visit Denver Stiffs.

PtR’s Game thread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed.