Nuggets' Lauvergne out with back issues vs. Jazz; Jokic will play

Denver Nuggets forward Joffrey Lauvergne won't play against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, according to the Denver Post's Chris Dempsey.

The 24-year-old Frenchman missed Tuesday's game versus the Los Angeles Lakers due to lingering back issues.

Nuggets' head coach Mike Malone told DenverStiffs.com's Jeff Morton that J.J. Hickson will replace the absent Lauvergne in the starting lineup.

Fellow big man Nikola Jokic - who also missed Tuesday's game with back issues - will play in Thursday's contest, Morton adds.