Nikola Jokić Out Approximately Four Weeks with Hyperextended Knee
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has been diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee following an injury sustained in the second quarter of their 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat. He left the court limping after his left knee buckled. Jokić will be re-evaluated in four weeks, with no surgery anticipated and his absence not expected to be season-ending. The estimated recovery time is about four weeks, roughly corresponding to 16 games, with the possibility of a return before the February NBA All-Star Game.
At the time of his injury, Jokić was fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 29.6 points per game, while leading the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists per game. His true shooting percentage was just over 71%, marking a historically impressive season, with only Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 having previously averaged at least 12 rebounds and 11 assists in a season.
The Nuggets entered the injury report with a 22-10 record, sitting third in the Western Conference. Jokić had played in all 32 games to date. The team faces the continuation of a seven-game road trip with five games remaining, starting with a game against the Toronto Raptors. Three other would-be starters — Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson — are also sidelined. The Nuggets' coach emphasized a ‘next man up’ approach and stressed the importance of staying united as a team during this challenging period.
