The Miami Heat beat the Denver Nuggets 147-123 Monday night. The game was tied 63-63 at halftime before Miami pulled away. Denver lost its star when Nikola Jokic suffered a left knee injury late in the second quarter and did not return.
The injury happened with about six seconds left in the second period. As Jokic was defending in the paint, Spencer Jones was pushed and stepped on Jokic’s planted left foot. Jokic’s knee buckled and appeared to hyperextend. He grabbed his knee, left the court limping and was initially listed as questionable to return.
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MORE: Nikola Jokic suffers knee injury during the Nuggets-Heat game
Coach David Adelman spoke to reporters after the game. “Immediately, he knew something was wrong,” he said. Adelman added, “This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is.” He also said, “We’ll find out more tomorrow and move on as a team.”
The Nuggets scheduled imaging and an MRI on Tuesday, Dec. 30 to determine the extent of the damage. Team officials said they will review testing before offering a fuller update. The immediate concern is a ligament injury, which would be the worst-case outcome and could force Jokic to miss extended time.
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Coach Adelman on Nikola Jokic’s knee injury:
“Obviously, immediately he knew something was wrong… We’ll find out more tomorrow.”
“It’s unfortunate. Hoping for the best.”pic.twitter.com/D0clYCsHGe
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 30, 2025
“It’s unfortunate, hoping for the best just like we did with Cam and the other starters that we’ve lost. So you just have to stay with it as a team and as a group. And honestly, you have to stay with it as a team,” David Adelman added.
Jokic was playing at an MVP level this season, averaging 29.9 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists. In Monday’s first half he produced 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Losing him for any stretch would be a major blow.
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Denver already has multiple starters sidelined, Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Cameron Johnson (knee) and Christian Braun (ankle). The Nuggets fly to Toronto for a game on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Adelman emphasized concern for Jokic as a person and closed, “It sucks, but hoping for the best.”
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