The Denver Nuggets can breathe a sigh of relief.
Medical testing and an MRI has revealed that star center Nikola Jokić, the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, avoided a serious knee injury. The team announced Tuesday, Dec. 30 that Jokić suffered a hyperextension on his left knee and said he would be reevaluated in four weeks.
This development is a massive relief for the Nuggets, after the awkward nature of the injury prompted concerns about possible ligaments rupture. This should allow Denver to remain competitive in his absence.
It comes, however, as the team has been dealing with a rash of separate injuries.
Jokić, 30, suffered the injury Monday, Dec. 29 in a 147-123 loss against the Miami Heat. The play came with just six seconds left in the first half. As Jokić was in the paint, shuffling his feet on defense, Nuggets forward Spencer Jones was pushed backward and Jones stepped on Jokić’s left foot. Jokić had been planting on the foot, causing his left knee to buckle and hyperextend backwards.
He lay on the court in apparent discomfort and grabbed at his knee. Trainers and medical staff tended to him, before he eventually got up and went into the locker room with a significant limp.
‘Immediately, he knew something was wrong,’ Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters after the game. ‘This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is.’
The Nuggets had initially listed Jokić as questionable to return with a left knee injury, but they quickly ruled out his return after that.
Jokić becomes the fourth starter to miss time, joining forwards Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Cameron Johnson (knee) and guard Christian Braun (ankle).
Jokić had been playing MVP-caliber basketball this season for Denver, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists in 31 games.
Denver dropped to 22-10 and is currently on a seven-game road trip. The next game is Wednesday, Dec. 31 against the Toronto Raptors.