The Denver Nuggets felt the absence of their superstar big man in a 120-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday as Nikola Jokic sat out with lingering elbow and ankle issues.
Head coach Michael Malone addressed the situation postgame, according to Vic Lombardi of AltitudeTV. He revealed that Jokic has been dealing with these injuries for "a couple weeks now." Malone added another layer to Jokic's injury woes, revealing that he had also been dealing with shoulder issues.
The two-time MVP last played in Denver's narrow 126-123 loss to the Washington Wizards, and his status remains uncertain as the Nuggets prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
Michael Malone says Jamal Murray is closer to returning than Nikola Jokic. Hope to have one or both back for the Portland game Friday night. Joker has been dealing with elbow and shoulder issues for a couple weeks now.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) March 20, 2025
Meanwhile, Jamal Murray, who also missed the Lakers game, appears closer to a return, though Malone hopes to have at least one of his stars back for the next matchup.
Jokic's absence has been felt on both ends of the floor. The Nuggets have lost four of their last seven games, struggling to maintain consistency without their leader. The Serbian center is in the midst of another MVP-caliber season, averaging 29.1 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game, making him the engine that drives Denver's offense.
Without him, the team struggled to match the Lakers' firepower, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves dominating and orchestrating the offense with ease.
As Denver looks to get back on track, all eyes will be on Jokic's recovery. With the playoff race tightening in the Western Conference, the Nuggets need their franchise cornerstone healthy and back on the floor. The hope now is that Friday brings good news for Denver's title hopes-and for a team that can't afford to lose its best player for long.
Related: Nikola Jokic Drops Hilarious Take on Ankle Scare vs. Celtics
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 8:08 AM.