Nikola Jokic (knee) will miss a month as the Nuggets relax
The Nuggets announced on Tuesday that Nikola Jokic would likely miss January due to a hyperextended left knee.
After leaving Monday’s game against Miami with a knee injury that was believed to be serious, the superstar center had an MRI.
After a collision in the second quarter, Jokic, a three-time MVP who leads the NBA in rebounds and assists this season and is ranked fifth in scoring, was able to make it to the locker room but walked with a noticeable limp.
“Immediately, he knew something was wrong,” David Adelman, the coach of the Nuggets, remarked after the game. “The NBA includes this. It is heartbreaking for anyone to be hurt, especially for someone as unique as him.
“As a team, we’ll move on. Of course, at the moment, I’m more worried about him personally and the disappointment of experiencing such a thing.”
Jokic finished Monday’s 147-123 loss to the Heat with 19 minutes played, 21 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. He averages 11.0 assists, 12.2 rebounds, and 29.6 points per game.
The 30-year-old Jokic has participated in all 32 Nuggets games this year. The team’s trip to Toronto on Wednesday night is the first of 18 games left before the end of January.
Denver (22–10) has already lost several key players.
Due to a hamstring injury, Aaron Gordon hasn’t played since November 21; however, Adelman stated that he might return around the end of the current seven-game road trip.
Due to an ankle ailment, Christian Braun has been sidelined since November 12 and may make a comeback toward the “back end” of the current road trip. The Nuggets’ second game on the road was a loss to Miami.
Additionally, Cam Johnson is probably more in line with Jokic’s potential February comeback to the court. Last week, the team said that he will probably be out for four to six weeks due to a bone bruise.
