Nikola Jokic
Getty
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is a three-time NBA MVP.
It has been a rough season for the Denver Nuggets in terms of injuries, with players like Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun missing an extended amount of time.
Jokic missed 16 consecutive games after suffering a sprained left knee against the Miami Heat on December 29. He returned Friday last week, helping the Nuggets beat the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers.
The three-time MVP was on a minutes restriction in his first three games back, but that went out of the window on Wednesday against the New York Knicks. He was cleared to play in the second game of a back-to-back and played 45 minutes in their double-overtime loss.
The Joker had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their 134-127 defeat. It was his 181st triple-double, tying Oscar Robertson for second-most in NBA history.
He suffered an injury scare in the first quarter after stepping on OG Anunoby‘s foot. He immediately grabbed his recently injured left knee, though he played for the rest of the contest.
Jokic Issues Injury Update
In his postgame interview in the locker room, Nikola Jokic was asked about what happened in the first quarter. Jokic clarified that it wasn’t his knee, but he tweaked his left ankle. There was some pain throughout the game, though Nuggets fans have nothing to worry about.
“No, it was my ankle,” Jokic said. “It was not my knee.”
When asked if he’s hurting the whole game, he answered, “A little bit, but you know, who cares?”
Jokic was also asked about playing over his minutes restriction against the Knicks and how his body feels after a tiring contest.
“I feel good. I feel good. You know, I feel good,” Jokic said. “So, I don’t feel any tiredness, it’s just, I think we have like a muscle memory. My body has a (muscle memory), not just me, like people, we’re used to it, to play.”
Another piece of good news for the Nuggets is that they have an extra day of rest. They won’t be back in action until Saturday, when they visit the revamped Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
More Injuries Hit The Nuggets
The Nuggets have been unfortunate with injuries this season. Nikola Jokic missed a month of action with a knee injury. Christian Braun recently returned from a severe ankle sprain, while Jonas Valanciunas was out for a couple of weeks with a calf strain.
Cameron Johnson is still recovering from a sprained knee suffered before Christmas, but he could return before the All-Star break. Aaron Gordon re-aggravated his right hamstring for the second time since last year’s playoffs. He will be out for four to six weeks or even longer.
In their loss to the Knicks, the Nuggets lost two more players to injuries. Spencer Jones was put under concussion protocol after colliding with Karl-Anthony Towns.
Peyton Watson suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. He’s set to undergo an MRI on Thursday morning, as per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, but he could be out for a long period.