NBA injury report: When is Nikola Jokic returning? Exploring Denver Nuggets star’s knee injury timeline, return date, latest updates and more | NBA News
Fans of the Denver Nuggets are eagerly awaiting word on the condition of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who suffered a left knee injury against the Miami Heat on Monday night. With just six seconds remaining in the second quarter, Jokic sustained the injury. Despite being listed as questionable to return, he never played again.The Denver Nuggets may soon be put to the test after spending the offseason assembling a team that could at least survive without Nikola Jokic. Fans of the Nuggets and the NBA as a whole who like seeing an all-time great player fill the stat sheet were alarmed when Jokic left Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat due to a knee injury and did not return.
Nikola Jokic suffered a knee hyperextension vs Heat, MRI Tuesday, return timeline unclear
During Monday’s game against the Heat, Jokic seemed to hyperextend his knee after teammate Spencer Jones stepped on him beneath the basket. A hyperextension is defined by the Cleveland Clinic as “an injury that happens when your knee is bent backward beyond its usual limit.”Usually, a hyperextension is an occurrence that can result in knee ligament damage rather than a diagnosis in and of itself. Jokic must thus have an MRI on Tuesday to ascertain the precise nature of his knee injury.As they assess how long the former MVP will be sidelined, the Nuggets hope that Jokic largely avoided ligament injury, with the ACL being the most important of the group. Jokic, meanwhile, left with a noticeable limp after collapsing to the ground in agony and never came back.David Adelman, the coach of the Nuggets, claimed that Jokic realized the injury right away. On Thursday, January 1, 2026, the team will play the Raptors. Nuggets coach David Adelman said after the game:“Immediately, he knew something was wrong… This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is.”Apart from announcing that Jokic would get an MRI on Tuesday, Nuggets coach David Adelman was unable to provide much of an update following the defeat. Adelman stated that the Nuggets “will go through the process properly” and that he is “hoping for the best.”It is anticipated that Jokic’s timetable won’t be known until after Tuesday’s MRI. Jokic might still miss a lot of time even if he doesn’t get a serious injury. That would be an uncommon development for the three-time MVP, who hasn’t missed more than five straight games since 2017. During his rise to MVP status, Jokic established himself as one of the NBA’s most resilient players.
Nikola Jokic has faced multiple injuries over his career, with a fresh left knee setback in 2025 now under review
Throughout his career, Nikola sustained several serious injuries. This prevented him from appearing in court for a considerable amount of time. But each time he went back to the court, he made sure to make an impression. The athlete’s most recent injury occurred during the Miami Heat game. Due to a serious knee injury, he was unable to play in the second half of the match. Let’s examine all of the significant ailments the Nuggets player has suffered over his career while supporters wait for an update on his setback.Jokic’s most recent injury was a left knee injury in 2025. It happened in the closing minutes of the Miami Heat game’s first half. Jokic unintentionally tread on Spencer Jones’ toes. Jokic did not return for the second half of the game after hobbling off the court. We are awaiting the team’s comprehensive report.In terms of injuries, the athlete’s year does not appear to be going well. Both Jokic and Jamal Murray had to miss a few games in the first half of the season owing to injuries. Jokic has a bruise to his right shooting elbow in addition to an ankle impingement that limited his range of motion. The sportsman was given a severe instruction to rest by Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone. Jokic’s ankle ailment kept him out of several games.Also read: “He wasn’t the superstar he is now”- Michael Porter Jr. opens up on doubting Nikola Jokic’s greatness in Denver Nuggets training camp
