In the closing seconds of the second quarter, Nikola Jokic went down in what was a very scary situation.
On a defensive play, Spencer Jones lost his balance defending in isolation with Jokic directly behind him. Jones stepped back into Jokic, who was forced to take a false step and saw his left knee hyper extend in an unfortunate way.
Nikola Jokic went down with an apparent leg injury vs. the Heat. pic.twitter.com/4kPf9HAOt8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2025
Jokic went down in a heap holding his left knee. He limped off the court to end the half and didn’t return in the second half.
The Nuggets are officially designating it a “left knee injury” and questionable to return.
Injury Update: Nikola Jokić is questionable to return with a Left Knee Injury
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025
If Jokic is out for the short term, it will obviously be a difficult loss, perhaps the most difficult loss any team could possibly sustain. Jonas Valanciunas would step in as the primary center, and the Nuggets would have to piece together some backup center play where they can.
If Jokic is out for a longer period of time, it’s season-altering. Jokic is in the middle of one of the greatest seasons in NBA history, and not having him is the equivalent of Michael Jordan or LeBron James missing extended time.
Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that. Hopefully, Jokic is back in short order and making more crazy plays. Time will tell.
Update: Jokic suffers Hyperextension, ligaments remain intact (9:50 am MT)
The Nuggets provided an injury update early on Tuesday morning, confirming that Nikola Jokic’s knee injury was specifically a hyperextension of the knee rather than the tearing of any specific ligaments.
Injury Update: Nikola Jokić suffered a Left Knee Hyperextension injury during last night’s game at the Miami Heat. Nikola will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/NIDmlKAN81
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025
This is of course the best possible news the Nuggets could’ve received. Jokic was in a clear amount of pain last night, and fans were extremely worried that this would end up being longer than a four-week absence. Had there been a major injury, the Nuggets’ season would’ve been lost. The Nuggets don’t have to deal with those scenarios though.
Surviving without Jokic for a month will of course be difficult, but it’s a challenge the Nuggets will attempt to deal with head on. Jonas Valanciunas will start in Jokic’s place, and the Nuggets will need Jamal Murray to step up and carry the burden for the foreseeable future since he’s the only healthy starter left.
But the Nuggets will of course take a month long absence. It could’ve been a year. This way, Jokic should be back before the All-Star break.