Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic faces at least four weeks on the sidelines after suffering a left knee injury in a defeat to Miami, the Nuggets confirmed on Tuesday. Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic collapsed to the court after a collision with team-mate Spencer Jones just before half-time in Monday’s game in Miami. The Serbian ace did not return to the game after suffering the injury, which Nuggets coach David Adelman later described as “gut-wrenching.”
Replays of the incident showed Jokic’s knee buckling awkwardly after Jones stepped on his foot while defending, prompting concern of possible knee ligament damage. However, the Nuggets confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the 30-year-old had escaped serious injury, suffering only a hyperextended left knee. “Nikola will be re-evaluated in four weeks,” the team said in a brief statement.
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The Nuggets are already dealing with an injury crisis that has left them deprived of regular starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. The issue of player injuries in the NBA has been in the spotlight this season, with players such as San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo spending significant time on the sidelines.
As well as Jokic, there were more grim injury bulletins on Monday with the Chicago Bulls losing both Coby White and Josh Giddey during their defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. White exited in the first quarter with a calf problem, while Giddey limped out of the game in the second half with a sore hamstring.
Some coaches and players have argued that the relentless grind of the NBA’s 82-game regular season has contributed to the injury toll, although league commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month there was no statistical basis indicating scheduling was to blame.
© 2024 AFP
