Denver Nuggets fans were devastated after Nikola Jokic sustained a hyperextended knee on Monday against the Miami Heat. His leg got tangled up with his teammate Spencer Jones during the final seconds of the second quarter. He left the game and did not return in the second half, resulting in a 147-123 loss. Initial reports have ruled him out for at least a week.
It was an unfortunate injury for one of the top candidates to win the Most Valuable Player award. The team also lost its best player, who has been balling out this 2025-26 season. Jokic has averaged 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists through 32 games. By not having him, the Nuggets lose a significant part of their offense.
Ahead of the Nuggets’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, NBA reporter Cassidy Hubbarth had an encouraging update on the Serbian star. According to Hubbarth, Nikola Jokic has been progressing well in his recovery from the injury. His advancement has also been “trending positively.”
Interesting update from Cassidy Hubbarth on @NBAonPrime:
Nikola Jokic has been progressing well since hyperextending his left knee and is “trending positively.”
He will remain with the Nuggets on their current road trip, where Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun could return.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) January 3, 2026
With the good news, however, came a terrible update from the Nuggets. Backup center Jonas Valančiūnas has been ruled out for a month due to a calf injury. The big man suffered the injury on Wednesday’s 106-103 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Jamal Murray gets to shine as an All-Star amid Nikola Jokic’s absence
Nuggets fans haven’t lost all hope amid the team’s injury woes. While their best player, Nikola Jokic, is down with a setback, their second-best player can step up for the team. Jamal Murray has left a strong impression on the fans this season with how he’s played.
Through 32 games, he’s averaged 25.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists. Murray has a clear shot at being named an All-Star this season based on the numbers he’s put up. But the Canadian star isn’t focused on that. He wants to help the team win, especially now that Jokic won’t be with the team for a while.
“Obviously, I’d love to be an All-Star, all-NBA, scoring champ, MVP. I want to be all of them, right?,” Murray said. “But winning matters … if we win a championship but I don’t make an All-star … we win a championship …. that’s my mindset.”
Murray has been snubbed in the past. But he has a chance to be voted by the fans to be an All-Star this season.
