According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic will miss at least four weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee injury in the game against the Miami Heat last night.
> Just in: Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic has been diagnosed with a hyperextension in his left knee and will miss at least four weeks. An immense sigh of relief as tests show the three-time NBA MVP's knee ligaments are intact. [pic.twitter.com/u8qLE0GDd3](https://t.co/u8qLE0GDd3)
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> — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) [December 30, 2025](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/2006039788235739230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
This is essentially the best case scenario for the Nuggets and Joker after he went down clutching his knee at the end of the second quarter. It appeared that Spencer Jones inadvertently stepped backward onto Jokic’s foot, causing his leg to lock and his knee to bend awkwardly. When Jokic crumpled to the floor in a heap fans feared the worst. Luckily, Jokic has avoided disaster and will be able to return to the Nuggets lineup this season.
The loss of Nikola for at least a month will not be easy though. The Nuggets are already missing three other starters due to injury (Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon & Cam Johnson), though Braun and Gordon appear to be close to returning. In the interim, Jamal Murray is the lone opening night starter still available. He’s off to the best start of his career and looks to earn his first All Star selection, but he’ll be asked now to fully carry the load as the number one option on offense.