Nikola Jokic
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Nikola Jokic is expected to be out until the All-Star break.
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic came within one assist of posting an unprecedented quadruple-double in a 125-118 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
The Serbian superstar finished with 29 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks and a steal in a busy night for him. However, he also equalled his career high in turnovers with 10, all in 39 minutes of action.
One assist would have put Jokic in a rare category of having double figures in points, rebounds, assists and turnovers. The turnovers were the culmination of what was a sloppy night for the 31-year-old center. It was very uncharacteristic of him, as he looked fatigued at times and committed live-ball turnovers that gave Memphis potent offensive transitions on a night where the rest of his Denver teammates only committed nine turnovers in total. The Grizzlies outscored the Nuggets 39-31 in the third quarter to take control of the game.
Jokic Nearly Produces Forgettable Quadruple-Double
The Nuggets and Jokic played their second back-to-back in a week and that can be attributed to Jokic’s off night in terms of turnovers. But with only 54 games played so far this season and only 12 games to go, Jokic, a three-time MVP can only afford to miss one game if he is to reach the 65-game mark for major regular season awards.
Jokic checked in with 8:26 left in the final quarter and ignited an 8-0 run for Denver, but back-to-back giveaways from him gave Memphis an 11-2 burst that sealed the game. It was an off-night for Jokic, who had a -4 plus/minus rating, but his stat was historic even though it didn’t get Denver over the line for the win.
Jokic is averaging a triple-double this season and is in contention for a fourth-MVP award, however the Nuggets are in a tough spot at the moment. Head coach David Adelman, in his first full year leading the team, has noted the fatigue factor from the back-to-backs but isn’t leaning on it as an excuse for losses against the struggling Grizzlies.
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon sat out the game, but Jokic couldn’t because he is already on a thin line after missing numerous games due to injury in December and January. The Nuggets are therefore getting the short end of the stick with a fatigued Jokic who is their best player.
Denver’s Struggles Come at an Inopportune Time
The Nuggets dropped a game they couldn’t afford against a Grizzlies team on an eight-game losing streak and boasting next to no chance of a play-in spot. However, Denver’s problems are far from a sloppy night. Since the start of 2026, the franchise has gone 19-18, which is far from consistency, and are only three games above the play-in spot.
The teams below the Nuggets are within striking distance, and Denver’s close to the season still includes a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and two against the San Antonio Spurs, which could derail their chances for a direct playoff spot. That will make for a tough end to what has been a lopsided season for the Nuggets.