The Denver Nuggets are getting their superstar back at the perfect time as a big Western Conference showdown awaits.
Nikola Jokic is set to make his return to the court on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing several weeks with a knee injury, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The three-time MVP hyperextended his left knee and suffered a bone bruise during a game against the Miami Heat on December 29th and has been sidelined ever since, but his recovery has gone better than expected and the Nuggets are ready to welcome him back for a massive matchup at Ball Arena.
A Much-Needed Return
Jokic was having an MVP-caliber season before going down with the injury, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game while leading one of the best offenses in the league.
The Serbian big man had been playing at an incredible level, including a historic 56-point, 16-rebound, 15-assist performance on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves that set the record for most points scored in a single overtime period.
Denver has held its own without their franchise cornerstone, going 10-6 in his absence to sit at 32-16 on the season while holding onto third place in the Western Conference.
Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson have stepped up in a big way during the stretch, but the team knows how much better they are when Jokic is running the show.
The timing of his return could not be more crucial for the Nuggets because they just received more bad news on the injury front.
Forward Aaron Gordon will be out for the next four-to-six weeks after re-aggravating his right hamstring strain, which means Denver will be without one of their key starters for an extended period of time.
The Nuggets announced the news on Thursday before their game against the Brooklyn Nets, which they won 107-103.
Clippers Come to Town
The Clippers have turned their season around after a rough 6-21 start and enter Friday's game at 22-24 with three straight wins under their belt.
Kawhi Leonard has been playing at an elite level during their recent surge and James Harden continues to put up big numbers while making a strong case for an All-Star selection.
The last time these two teams met was back on November 13th when Jokic went off for 55 points in a 130-116 Denver victory.
The Clippers will be looking for some revenge and they are catching the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back, which could give them an edge even with Jokic returning to the lineup.
Head coach David Adelman has said the team would not rush Jokic back and that his long-term health is the priority, but with the Serbian superstar making rapid progress in his rehab and the Western Conference standings being so tight, getting him back on the court sooner rather than later is a welcome development for Denver.
What It Means Going Forward
The return of Jokic gives the Nuggets a huge boost heading into a tough stretch of games that includes matchups against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, and New York Knicks in the coming week.
While they have proven they can compete without him, there is no replacing what the three-time MVP brings to the table on both ends of the floor.
With Gordon out for an extended period and multiple other starters dealing with injuries of their own, the Nuggets will need Jokic to carry an even bigger load than usual as they try to climb the Western Conference standings and position themselves for another deep playoff run.
The young players who stepped up during his absence will still be counted on to contribute, but having the best player in the world back in the lineup changes everything for a Denver team that has championship aspirations once again this season.
Friday's game tips off at 9:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver.