The Denver Nuggets will look to bounce back from a lopsided 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat earlier this week when they face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately, Nikola Jokic is one of four starters inactive for the franchise’s upcoming clash.
Why Nikola Jokic isn’t playing for the Nuggets tonight vs. Raptors with injury news
Jokic suffered a lower-body injury against the Heat in the first half and was unable to finish the contest. The three-time MVP will join Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and Cameron Johnson on Denver’s injury list.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania detailed Jokic’s injury and provided a return timeline for the 31-year-old phenomenon.
“Just in: Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic has been diagnosed with a hyperextension in his left knee and will miss at least four weeks,” Charania wrote on X/Twitter. “An immense sigh of relief as tests show the three-time NBA MVP's knee ligaments are intact.”
“Jokic is in the midst of a historic campaign so far, and this will be the most time he has ever missed through 11 NBA seasons, having played in 69-70+ games in all 10 previous years. Denver avoided a catastrophic injury Monday night in Miami, but now is down four of five starters.”
Without Jokic, the Nuggets’ offensive efficiency/productivity will suffer. The former second-round pick is among the main reasons Denver is challenging to contain on that end of the floor nightly.
If the Nuggets can survive with Jokic out of the lineup for several games, it will say a lot about the future Hall of Fame center’s supporting cast.
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