Denver Nuggets three-time MVP Nikola Jokic will miss approximately six to eight weeks after hyperextending his left knee against the Miami Heat on Monday night, league sources told ClutchPoints on Tuesday morning.
The good news surrounding Jokic is that he did not suffer any significant ligament damage in his knee, avoiding the catastrophic scenario of the MVP candidate missing the remainder of the season. Jokic will miss a minimum of four weeks before the team evaluates his progress and where he is at in his rehab process.
Jokic now joins Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson on the sideline in Denver, as all four starters have suffered injuries resulting in them missing weeks of action. Jamal Murray is left as the lone, healthy starter for the Nuggets.
In 32 games this season, Jokic has averaged 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game while shooting 60.5 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from 3-point range. He is currently at the top of ClutchPoints' MVP rankings.
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This injury occurred on Monday night in Miami at the end of the second quarter. While defending in the paint with seconds remaining in the first half, Nuggets forward Spencer Jones stepped backwards onto Jokic's left foot as the center was moving to defend Heat center Kel'el Ware.
As his left knee buckled under him and hyperextended back, Jokic immediately went to the ground clutching his knee in a lot of pain. He was helped to the locker room with a major limp and was quickly ruled out by the Nuggets at halftime.
Now that Jokic will be sidelined for at least a month with his left knee injury, his MVP campaign this season has likely ended.