By BEN NAGLE, US SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 12:04 EST, 30 December 2025 | Updated: 12:04 EST, 30 December 2025
The Denver Nuggets are breathing a sigh of relief after an MRI scan revealed that Nikola Jokic's knee ligaments are intact after a worrying injury scare on Monday night.
There were fears the NBA superstar had suffered a serious injury - with the possibility of an ACL tear even being raised - after he was left in agony by an accidental stamp from his own teammate.
Jokic went for an MRI scan on Tuesday morning and has been diagnosed with a hyperextension in his left knee, that will see him sidelined for 'at least four weeks', according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
While not ideal for the Nuggets - or the NBA - the injury news is far better than it could have been after the initial fears.
Jokic - one of the league's biggest stars - was having another brilliant game when the disaster occurred: 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the first half against the Heat.
Just seconds before halftime, a misstep from his teammate Spencer Jones saw him accidentally stamp on Jokic's ankle, leading to him immediately clutching his left knee, falling to the court and writhing in pain.
Nikola Jokic dropped to the paint and clutched his knee in agony before limping off the court
It has now been revealed that the Denver Nuggets star has avoided a serious knee injury
'Immediately, he knew something was wrong,' Nuggets coach David Adelman said after Denver's 147-123 loss. 'Hey, this is part of the NBA.
'Anybody who gets hurt in this game, it's kind of gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is. We'll find out more tomorrow. We'll move on as a team.
'Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that.'
'Tonight my mind will wander,' Adelman said, as quoted by The Associated Press and Denver Post. 'And it'll wander about what we have to do going forward if he is out for a while or for a long time.'
Jokic is a three-time MVP and certainly was in the early MVP conversation this season, having entered Monday averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists - well on his way to a triple-double average for the second consecutive season.
Jokic was alone under the basket and appeared to step forward to help Denver's Jones defend a drive by Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. as time was about to expire in the second quarter. While backtracking, Jones stepped on Jokic's left foot and it seemed the center's knee buckled.
Jokic collapsed to the court, grabbing at the knee and writhing in pain. He was helped to his feet, then made his way to the locker room under his own power.
He was evaluated by doctors, and the Nuggets had to initially work through a logistical plan for how to schedule an MRI around the team's flight to Toronto on Tuesday for a game against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Jokic suffering a serious injury would have been a blow not only for the Nuggets but the NBA
'It's just part of this process,' Adelman said. 'You don't get definitive answers right after these things happen. I know he's an extremely special player that people want updates on right away; makes total sense to me. But we'll go through the process properly, for him and for our team.'
The Nuggets have dealt with some major injury issues this season and were playing Monday without three would-be starters - Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Cam Johnson (right knee injury management).
Denver has managed its way through those - thanks in large part to Jokic.
'The things that he's doing this year,' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before Monday's game, 'are really remarkable.'
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