Nikola Jokić, Nuggets
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Nikola Jokić reacts during a recent Nuggets game as Denver awaits his return from a knee injury.
The Nikola Jokić return update could not be more timely for a Nuggets team trying to survive a brutal stretch without its MVP.
The Denver Nuggets may finally be seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
After their improbable 125–124 overtime road win over the Philadelphia 76ers, news emerged that three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić is nearing a return from his knee injury — and the timetable is now coming into focus.
According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Denver is targeting early February for Jokić’s return, with the All-Star break from Feb. 13–16 in Los Angeles serving as the outside marker.
“The good news is the Nuggets are optimistic about Jokić’s recovery,” Jones wrote. “According to team sources, the hope is that Jokić is back and playing by, at worst, the All-Star break.”
Jones added that Jokić was in the locker room Sunday night in Brooklyn in good spirits and well into his rehabilitation process, though he has not yet returned to on-court work.
How Nikola Jokić Was Injured
Jokić suffered a left knee hyperextension on Dec. 29 in a loss to Miami after accidental contact with teammate Spencer Jones caused him to step awkwardly and collapse to the floor.
He immediately grabbed his knee and did not return. The team later announced he would be re-evaluated in four weeks.
That timeline is now nearing its end, and Denver is clinging tightly to its position in the Western Conference while waiting.
What the Nikola Jokić Return Update Means for Denver
The Nuggets are 2–2 without Jokić, but that record barely reflects the fragility of their situation.
At 24–12, Denver sits fourth in the West, but only 4.5 games separate the No. 2 seed from the play-in line. A brief slump could force the Nuggets into the play-in tournament and a far more challenging postseason path.
“We’re in survival mode,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said Sunday. “Our goal is to wake up in February and be in striking distance.”
That survival mode was evident in recent losses, including a 127–115 defeat to Brooklyn, as well as in moments of resilience, such as Monday night’s win in Philadelphia.
Improbable Win Over Sixers Keeps Nuggets Afloat
Denver defeated the 76ers without Jokić and without its entire regular starting lineup in a result that felt more like a cultural statement than a statistical one.
Jalen Pickett scored 29 points and made seven 3-pointers. Zeke Nnaji added 21 points with efficient inside-outside scoring. Bruce Brown finished the game with the winning layup after a late goaltending call on Sixers star Joel Embiid.
“One of the most special wins I’ve been a part of,” an emotional Adelman said. “This is a bunch of guys finding a way to get it done with grit and effort and timely shot-making.”
Upcoming Schedule Makes Jokić’s Timeline Crucial
Denver has 14 games remaining in January and then opens February against defending champion Oklahoma City before heading on a three-game East Coast trip that includes back-to-back games against Detroit and New York.
The Nuggets are trying to avoid sliding into the play-in before Jokić returns.
Awards, Seeding and the Bigger Picture
Jokić’s absence also affects his eligibility for postseason awards, which require 65 games played. If he misses too much more time, he will fall short of that threshold.
But Denver’s priority is immediate. The Nuggets are focused on staying competitive until their franchise centerpiece returns.
Big Picture: Denver Is Waiting for Its Gravity to Return
Jokić is not just Denver’s best player. He is Denver’s structure.
The team’s spacing, tempo and decision-making orbit around him. Without him, the Nuggets are a good team fighting to look like a great one. With him, they are once again a championship threat.
For now, Denver is grinding, stealing wins and holding the line.
February is coming.
And so, it appears, is Nikola Jokić.