Nikola Jokić endured a tense injury scare during the Denver Nuggets’ clash against the Miami Heat on Monday night after hurting his left knee moments before halftime.
The incident occurred while Jokić helped teammate Spencer Jones defend a Miami drive. Jones stepped on Jokić’s left foot, causing his knee to buckle. Jokić fell to the floor and walked gingerly to the locker room shortly before the break.
Medical staff scheduled an MRI for Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury. Despite the scare, Jokić returned for the second half, showing toughness even as Denver slipped to a 147–123 defeat.
Nikola Jokic ⬇️
Looks like hyperextension of left knee, concern would be an ACL tear/sprain
Maybe bone bruise
Doesn’t look great in this slow mo vid pic.twitter.com/etAmehmblP
— FantasySports DC1 (@FantasySportDC1) December 30, 2025Nuggets head coach David Alderman said injuries remain an unavoidable part of the NBA and stressed the team’s focus on supporting its star.
“We’ll move forward together,” Alderman said. “When someone as special as Nikola gets hurt, it always affects you. I care first about him as a person and what it’s like to go through something like this.”
Read: Stan Van Gundy Calls Nikola Jokic the Best Player in NBA History
Alderman added that while fans naturally want immediate updates, the team plans to follow the proper medical process for both Jokić and the squad.
Before the injury, Jokić dominated the first half. He scored 21 points, dished out eight assists, and grabbed five rebounds in another all-around display. Any extended absence would deal a significant blow to Denver’s momentum early in the season.
