The NBA was left anxiously waiting on Tuesday as Nikola Jokić underwent an MRI of his left knee, a critical evaluation that could have major implications for the Denver Nuggets’ championship hopes this season.
Jokić, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player and one of the early favorites in this year’s MVP race, was injured late in the first half of Monday night’s 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat. With six seconds before halftime and the game tied 62-62, he collapsed after his foot tangled with teammate Spencer Jones while defending Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The contact caused Jokić’s knee to buckle, and the 30-year-old center immediately clutched his leg in pain. He limped off the court and did not return for the rest of the game. Denver initially listed him as questionable but ruled him out for the night.
“All I know is it’s just a left knee injury,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after the loss. “He has to go through the process of what it is. Watching it at halftime, it looked like his feet got tangled up with a teammate. And immediately, he knew something was wrong.”
Jokić’s injury caused concern throughout the league, given his durability and his central role in Denver’s success. Adelman acknowledged the emotional impact, especially for a player of Jokić’s stature.
“This is part of the NBA,” Adelman said. “Anybody who gets hurt in this game, it’s gut-wrenching. Especially somebody as special as he is. We’ll find out more tomorrow.”
Jokić’s importance to the Nuggets extends far beyond the box score, though the numbers themselves are historic. He is averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists per game, putting him on pace to become the first center in league history to average a triple-double over a full season. His all-around dominance was on full display just days earlier, when he delivered a landmark performance on Christmas Day.
In Denver’s holiday win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jokić recorded 58 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists — a stat line never before seen in an NBA game. Performances like that have further cemented his reputation as one of the most unique and impactful players the league has ever seen.
That context intensified concern for Denver, especially as the team already faces significant health challenges and lineup changes, heightening Jokić’s burden to stabilize the team.
“We’ll move on as a team,” Adelman said. “I’m more concerned about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that. It’s unfortunate. Hoping for the best, just like we did with Cam [Johnson] and the other starters that we’ve lost.”
Adelman stressed unity as Denver awaits clarity on Jokić’s condition, emphasizing a team-oriented response built on collective effort and accountability.
“You just have to stay with it as a team and a group,” Adelman said. “That’s how you best support your teammates who are out — by honoring them when you play. This is part of the NBA. It sucks, but I’m hoping for the best tomorrow.”
The Nuggets entered the week with a 22-10 record, sitting third in the Western Conference and firmly in the mix for another deep postseason run. Those aspirations, however, hinge heavily on Jokić’s availability. Any extended absence would dramatically alter Denver’s outlook and force the team to recalibrate its approach on both ends of the floor.
“Tonight my mind will wander,” Adelman admitted. “And it’ll be wondered about what we have to do going forward if he is out for a while or for a long time.”
Denver will continue its road trip Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors, though the immediate focus remains on the results of Jokić’s MRI. Until those findings are known, the Nuggets — and much of the NBA — remain on edge, hoping that one of the league’s brightest stars will not be sidelined for long.
