The Denver Nuggets have managed to put together a season full of highs through 29 games despite some poor injury luck, which makes the blow they potentially suffered in Tuesday’s 131-130 loss to the Dallas Mavericks all the more devastating. 

With 9:18 remaining in the game’s final quarter, forward Cameron Johnson went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury as the Nuggets trailed 109-108. Johnson managed to bring himself to the bench under his power, but the postgame update from Nuggets coach David Adelman was less than encouraging. 

“It's concerning,’ Adelman said. “I haven't heard yet. He was sitting in his locker. We'll find out. Imaging has to happen before anything else. It was not a fun sight to see, especially a guy that's been trending so well, playing so well the last month. (He) has really found his way with our group.”

Johnson is expected to get the MRI sometime on Wednesday, and the results of the imagingg will either be a massive relief or a potentially fatal blow to what has been turning into a special season in Denver through the first two months.  

“We've had a lot of these moments this year,’ Adelman said. “It's deflating, but hopefully the news is better than it looked, because we know what Cam means to our team.”

The Nuggets acquired Johnson in a July trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn (to pick up Porter Jr.’s contract). Johnson had a turbulent start to the season in Denver but had since found a rhythm, scoring at least 15 points in eight of his last 13 appearances. 

With Johnson almost certain to miss at least some time, even in the best-case scenario, it only increases the difficulty of the tightrope act Adelman has to perform to win games and keep the Nuggets in good shape in the Western Conference without burning out his players. 

“When you lose bodies, your biggest worry is losing more because you have to play people into the ground to win games at a competitive league like this,” Adelman said. “I hope they come back ready to go, more importantly. But, yeah, hopefully sooner than later.”

The Nuggets are back in action on Christmas, as they’ll be taking on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the nightcap of the five-game slate that marks the most anticipated day of the NBA regular season.