Denver Nuggets fans got a big scare on Monday. Nikola Jokic left the court late in the first half during a 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat. He hurt his left knee in a hyperextension after colliding with a teammate's foot. Jokic was alone under the basket and appeared to step forward to help Denver's Spencer 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 a bit.
Jokic collapsed to the court, grabbing at his knee. He was helped to his feet, then made his way to the locker room under his own power but with a pronounced limp. He was evaluated by doctors Monday night before leaving the arena, and the Nuggets were scheduled to fly to Toronto on Tuesday for a game against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Before that, Jokic was putting up MVP numbers: 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in just 19 minutes. ESPN's Shams Charania says he'll miss at least four weeks. This is the longest time Jokic has ever been out, cutting short his streak as one of the NBA's top stars.
Jokic was on fire this season before the injury. He's averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists per game, right on track for another triple-double year. He led the Nuggets' attack with amazing efficiency, and Denver played great when he was in. That put him at the top for MVP talks heading into this period.
Even with the injury, Jokic stays No. 1 on the NBA's latest MVP ladder. His elite efficiency and Denver's strong play with him on the court made him the front-runner. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, and Victor Wembanyama follow in the top five.
Jokic can still qualify for MVP with 65 games if he returns before February and plays smart minutes. The NBA MVP rules say players need at least 65 games to qualify. His return timeline lets him hit that if he plays before February and the team manages his minutes smartly.
Without Jokic, the Nuggets have held up well. They sit third in the West with a 23-10 record. Right after the Heat loss, they beat the Toronto Raptors 106-103 on the road. They hung on after a late 3-pointer from Brandon Ingram.
Jamal Murray stepped up big with 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. He hit a key layup late in the fourth to take the lead. Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Nuggets face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Cleveland is eighth in the East at 19-16. This game will show how they handle tough games without their star.