NBA News: Nuggets star Nikola Jokic appears to suffer knee injury vs Miami Heat
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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic appeared to suffer a knee injury shortly before halftime of Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat, adding to the growing list of NBA stars sidelined with injuries this season.
Jokic’s injury occurred seconds into the second quarter when teammate Spencer Jones stepped back and planted on Jokic’s left foot.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) walks the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The three-time MVP winner immediately fell to the ground in obvious pain and appeared to be clutching his left knee. He did not return to the court in the second half of Denver’s 147-123 loss at Miami.
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“Right away, he knew something was wrong,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after the game. “Hey, this is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt in this game, it’s gut-wrenching, especially someone as special as him.”
Adelman said the team will know more about the injury — and his recovery — when the MRI results come back Tuesday.
“We’ll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I’m more worried about him as a person and the disappointment of having to deal with something like that.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds his left knee as head coach David Adelman approaches him after suffering an injury during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2025. (Photos by Sam Navarro/Imagn)
Jokic has reportedly sprained his knee, and in the best case scenario, he could miss just a few weeks. He entered Monday’s contest averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists and remains an early favorite in the MVP conversation.
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Although he did not return in the second half, Jokic did something impressive with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Jokic was the latest NBA star to be kicked out this season, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is confident that despite the optics, injuries have decreased this year.
“The information we have so far this season says that we have the lowest number of people injured in the last three years,” said Silver this month. “I’ll stop there and say, no matter where the injury rate is compared to previous years, it’s true that soft tissue injuries affect us. All injuries are a concern for us, for that matter. The most frustrating problem right now, and the one we seem to have the most control over, is keeping star players down.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) holds his knee after suffering an injury against the Miami Heat in the second quarter at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 29, 2025. (Photos by Sam Navarro/Imagn)
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Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams are among the big names who have missed a lot of time this season due to injuries. Now Jokic has been added to that list.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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