Nuggets' Nikola Jokic Suffers Knee Injury vs. Heat
Nikola Jokic injury update: The Denver Nuggets' three-time NBA MVP suffered a left knee injury during Monday's game against the Miami Heat, leaving the team awaiting a diagnosis.
Jokic hyperextended his knee in a collision late in the second quarter and did not return to the game.
Nikola Jokic Injury Update: How the Injury Happened
The Nikola Jokic injury update centers on a non-contact incident with just six seconds left in the first half.
While defending in the paint, teammate Spencer Jones was pushed backward and stepped on Jokic's planted left foot, causing Jokic's knee to buckle and hyperextend awkwardly backward.
Jokic remained on
the court in clear discomfort before limping off with a pronounced limp.
"Immediately, he knew something was wrong," Nuggets coach David
Adelman said after the game.
Nikola Jokic Injury Update: Severity and Team Impact
The immediate concern following this Nikola Jokic injury update is a potential ligament injury, which would be a worst-case scenario requiring an extended absence.
The Nuggets plan to conduct further evaluation and imaging on Tuesday, December 30, to determine the severity.
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Jokic was having another MVP-caliber season, averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists.
His
injury compounds a significant crisis for Denver, which now has four of its
five starters sidelined, including Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun.
Outlook and Next Steps
With the Nuggets embarking on a seven-game road trip, this Nikola Jokic injury update casts a shadow over their immediate future.
The team's next game is against the
Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. The entire organization is hoping for the best.
"I'm more concerned about him as a person," Coach Adelman stated.
"It sucks, but I'm hoping for the best."
Source Information:
This injury report is based on post-game coverage from The Denver Post,
the primary newspaper and digital news source for the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic injury update: 3-time MVP suffers knee injury vs. Heat
