The Denver Nuggets played without star big man Nikola Jokic for the fourth game in a row on Sunday against the Houston Rockets.
Jokic is apparently still not healthy enough to see action, as the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player continues to nurse an ankle injury. But after the meeting with the Rockets, which was the finale of a four-game road trip for the Nuggets, Denver head coach Michael Malone hinted about the possible return date for the Serbian.
Via Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
Injured three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic plans to return “at some point” during the Denver Nuggets’ upcoming five-game homestand, coach Michael Malone said Sunday.
“We’re just trying to get home and kind of see where he’s at,” Malone said before Denver beat the Houston Rockets 116-111, the fourth consecutive game Jokic has missed due to left ankle impingement. “It’d be great to have a chance to get our starting five some run together, because we haven’t had a lot of opportunity to do that this season.”
The Nuggets are expected to make the NBA Playoffs, as they are carrying a 45-27 record with only 10 games left on their schedule in the regular season.
However, they are still trying to get as high as second place in the Western Conference standings, which is currently being occupied by the Rockets (46-26). Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up the top seed in the West.
Denver Nuggets’ DeAndre Jordan effective in lieu of Nikola Jokic vs. Rockets
The Nuggets, who snapped a two-game losing skid with their win over Houston, seemingly benefited from their decision to go with DeAndre Jordan as their starting center versus the Rockets.
The 36-year-old big man had 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting with 15 rebounds in 38 minutes of floor duty.
Jordan likely has earned another nod from the Nuggets to get a start this Monday night versus the Chicago Bulls at home — unless Jokic suddenly becomes available.
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