Jokic did not come out to play in the second half and the Nuggets listed him as doubtful.
MIAMI — Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic limped off the court at halftime of Denver’s 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night after injuring his left knee with about three seconds left in the second quarter.
He was not on the court during the second half and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“Right away, he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after the game. “This is part of the NBA. For someone to get injured in this sport is heartbreaking, especially someone as special as him. We’ll know more tomorrow. We’ll move forward as a team. Obviously, right now, I’m more worried about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that.”
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 winding down in the second quarter. As he stepped back, Jones stepped on Jokic’s left foot and the center’s knee appeared to give way.
Jokic collapsed on the court, clutching his knee and writhing in pain. They helped him up and then he walked to the locker room on his own two feet. He was examined by doctors, and the Nuggets were putting together a logistical plan to schedule an MRI around the team’s flight to Toronto on Tuesday for a game against the Raptors on Wednesday.
“It’s part of the process,” Adelman said. “You don’t get definitive answers immediately after these things happen. I know he’s an extremely special player and people want updates right away; I completely understand that. But we’ll follow the process correctly, for him and for our team.”
The Nuggets have dealt with significant injury issues this season and played Monday without three potential starters: Christian Braun (sprained left ankle), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Cameron Johnson (right knee injury management).
Denver has managed to overcome these injuries, in large part thanks to Jokic.
“The things he’s doing this year,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before Monday’s game, “are really remarkable.” Jokic scored 21 points, dished out 8 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds in the first half. If he misses any significant amount of time, it would be a huge blow to Denver, and in some ways to the entire NBA, given that he is considered one of basketball’s undisputed superstars.
“Tonight my mind will wander,” Adelman added. “And he’ll ramble on about what we’ll have to do from now on if he’s out for a while or for a long period.”
Jokic is a three-time MVP and was certainly among the MVP candidates this season, as as of Monday he was averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists, on his way to averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
