Denver Nuggets insider reveals huge Nikola Jokic injury update after ‘gut-wrenching’ scare

Nikola Jokic avoided a ‘major’ knee injury against the Miami Heat, according to one NBA reporter.

The three-time MVP was having another brilliant game for the Denver Nuggets, with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the first half.

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But seconds before the interval, disaster struck.

Jokic, one of the best players in basketball, was alone under the basket as he stepped forward to help teammate Spencer Jones defend a drive by Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr.

As time was about to expire in the second quarter, Jones backtracked and stepped on the Joker’s left foot, and his knee appeared to buckle.

Jokic collapsed to the court and grabbed his leg before he limped off to the locker room.

The center, who celebrated a big win off the court last summer, did not return to the floor for the second half of Denver’s 147-123 loss at the Kaseya Center.

NBA insider provides Nikola Jokic injury update

While the Nuggets did not to release an official statement on Jokic’s injury, Denver-based sports reporter Vic Lombardi provided some hope early Tuesday morning.

“Nobody is allowed to exhale until the MRI results this morning, but it sounds like Nikola Jokic may have avoided major injury,” Lombardi posted on X.

“That could change based on imaging but they’re hoping it’s just a bone bruise.

“Either way, Nuggets are suddenly minus four starters.”

As Lombardi noted, nothing will be official until Jokic gets his MRI results.

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But the Nuggets will be hoping it is a matter of weeks, not months, that their star could miss.

Speaking on Monday night, Nuggets head coach David Adelman admitted the injury blow was ‘gut-wrenching’ nonetheless.

“All I know is it’s just a left knee injury,” the 2023 NBA Championship-winning coach said.

“He has to go through the process of what it is.

“Watching it at halftime, it looked like his feet got tangled up with a teammate. And immediately, he knew something was wrong.

“This is part of the NBA. Anybody that gets hurt in this game, it’s gut-wrenching.

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“Especially somebody as special as he is. We’ll find out more (Tuesday).”

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