Nuggets Get ‘Encouraging’ Nikola Jokic Injury Update

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has reportedly avoided a catastrophic injury after he went down with an apparent left knee injury in the Denver Nuggets‘ 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night.

According to Serbian outlet Meridian Sport, sources close to Jokic were upbeat about his injury after Monday’s loss, with initial scans not revealing the worst outcome.

“As Meridian Sport unofficially learns from sources close to Denver, the first forecasts in Colorado are encouraging when it comes to Nikola Jokić’s injury,” Đorđe Matić reported on Tuesday morning.

The report indicated that Jokic has avoided an ACL tear.

“Namely, the first indications are that it was a case of hyperextension and that no serious damage occurred.”

“Of course, we have to wait for the official medical report, but judging by the initial reactions, the best basketball player in the world could avoid a long break.”

---

Nikola Jokic Injury Update

It’s worth noting that Jokic’s MRI results could tell a different story, but Meridian Sport’s report will serve as music to the ears of a terrified Nuggets fanbase.

Jokic suffered an apparent left knee injury when teammate Spencer Jones fell on his leg, causing the three-time MVP to fall to the floor and grimace in pain. He would limp off the floor, following which the Nuggets ruled him out for the game.

“All I know is that it’s just a left knee injury,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said of his star player. “He’s got to go through the whole process of what it is. I watched it at halftime, and it looked like his feet got tangled up with a teammate, and obviously, immediately, he knew something was wrong.”

“This is part of the NBA. Anybody that gets hurt in this game…it’s kind of gut-wrenching,” he added, admitting that the Nuggets were worried about the outcome.

---

Positive Nikola Jokic Injury Outcome?

Interestingly, Meridian Sport’s report confirms an early assessment from sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer, who predicted that Jokic suffered a lower-grade hyperextension, not an ACL injury, as was initially feared.

“I’m more optimistic than pessimistic on Nikola Jokic’s injury,” Sutterer wrote on X, while sharing a YouTube video analyzing the scenes leading to the injury.

“This, overall, looks like a lower grade, lower severity of hyperextension,” he predicted, ruling out an ACL tear.

“Overall, I don’t see an excessive amount of hyperextension, and I don’t see an excessive amount of varus or valgus, meaning inward or outward movement.”

However, the doctor urged Nuggets fans to take his prediction with a grain of salt.

“Hyperextensions are notoriously one of the harder injuries to predict from video, so don’t be too hard on me if I’m wrong here,” he clarified on X.

“But I’ve watched a lot of these injuries on replay over the years and do think it’s more positive than negative.🤞”

Jokic has been one of the most durable players in the NBA since entering the league in 2014-15, having played 69 or more games every year.

Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan