The Denver Nuggets avoided the worst-case scenario with their star, but a season plagued by injuries continues.
Anytime a player goes down with a knee injury, it’s cause for concern when fearing the worst. That can often be torn ligaments that are season-ending. When a player of the caliber of Nikola Jokic falls down with one, it certainly puts the whole sport at a standstill. The Denver Nuggets three-time MVP went down right before halftime against the Miami Heat and was grabbing at his left knee. Spencer Jones accidentally stepped on Jokic’s left foot while playing defense, and Jokic’s knee buckled.
Thankfully, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, the MRI showed no ligament damage, and the center is diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee as well as a bone bruise. The team plans to reevaluate him in four weeks. That’s certainly a relief for Nuggets fans. A month of Jokic being sidelined would be about 16 games, slating him to possible return before the NBA All-Star game in February. It certainly is unfortunate for a team plagued by injuries all season, but a season-ending diagnosis for Jokic would be a nightmare.
Here is the full story from Nuggets Roundtable writer Grant Mona on the prognosis for Jokic and what the team can do in the interim of his absence.
Jokic amassed 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in 19 minutes before he collapsed in pain on the court and limped off to the locker room. He didn’t return, and his absence showed in Denver’s 147-123 loss to the Heat. Now, in addition to being without Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson, the Nuggets are down their 6-foot-11 superstar. Unfortunately, Denver is 13-23 when Jokic isn’t in the lineup over the last five seasons, according to ESPN.
That leaves a slim margin for error they can’t really afford. They’ve lost four of their last six games, but still are No. 3 in the Western Conference with a 22-10 record. Jokic has appeared in all 32. They will have to get through five games left on a seven-game road trip that starts on Wednesday at the Toronto Raptors, and several games after that, without Jokic. Hopefully they don’t add to the right side of their column in his absence.