Report reveals extent of Nuggets star Nikola Jokic's injury

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury during Monday night's game against the Miami Heat, and it sounds as if he has avoided a worst-case scenario.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that Jokic will miss at least four weeks after hyperextending his left knee. The positive news is that the three-time NBA MVP does not have any ligament damage, which means he will not have to undergo surgery.

Jokic had his left knee buckle awkwardly underneath him after he had his foot stepped on by Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. late in the second quarter of Miami's 147-123 win over the Nuggets on Monday night. Jokic clutched at his left knee and appeared to be in significant pain, which left fans fearing the worst. He was able to hobble off the court under his own power.

Nikola Jokic is off to a historic start

Jokic has exceeded even his own lofty standards during the early part of the 2025-26 season. The seven-time NBA All-Star is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game. The points and assists are both career-high marks for Jokic.

In a Christmas Day win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jokic became just the second player in NBA history to have a game with at least 50 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. He finished with 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in Denver's 142-128 overtime win.

Jokic had 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds in less than a full half against Miami on Monday night. The Nuggets were outscored 84-60 in the second half, which illustrated just how important Jokic is to the team.

Nuggets have been bitten hard by the injury bug

With Jokic now expected to miss time, the Nuggets are down four starters. Star forward Aaron Gordon has been sidelined since Nov. 21 with a hamstring injury. Guard Christian Braun has also missed more than a month because of an ankle sprain. Forward Cameron Johnson suffered a right knee contusion on Dec. 23 and will not be reevaluated for at least another month.

Even with all the injuries, the Nuggets are 22-10 and in third place in the Western Conference. Their chances of contending for a title would have all but evaporated had Jokic suffered a season-ending injury, so the news on Tuesday was as good as Denver could have hoped for.