Nikola Jokic Injury Update: Will the Nuggets' standout feature in tonight's game

Denver Nuggets continue to navigate a difficult stretch without Nikola Jokic, but there is growing optimism surrounding the reigning franchise cornerstone’s recovery.

Just one week after a concerning injury scare, the team is encouraged by the progress made by its three-time NBA Most Valuable Player.

Still, that optimism will not translate into immediate action on the court.

Jokic’s recovery progress encourages Denver

Nikola Jokic suffered a left knee injury late last month, an incident that initially raised alarms within the organization.

Subsequent imaging conducted on December 30 revealed a left knee hyperextension, and the Nuggets announced at the time that the star center would be reevaluated after four weeks.

Since then, Denver has quietly been pleased with how Jokic has responded. During the Amazon Prime Video broadcast of the Nuggets’ January 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth shared that the team has been “pleasantly surprised” by his recovery pace.

According to the report, Jokic has already been using an exercise bike and walking stairs as part of his rehabilitation.

More recently, the Nuggets have listed his injury as a left knee bone bruise, a condition commonly associated with hyperextensions, offering further clarity on the nature of the setback.

Will Nikola Jokic play tonight vs. 76ers?

Despite the encouraging signs, Jokic will not be available for Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Denver has officially ruled him out as it continues to prioritize a cautious approach with its franchise player.

This will mark the fourth consecutive game Jokic has missed since sustaining the injury. While the recovery timeline appears to be trending positively, the Nuggets are not prepared to accelerate his return amid a congested injury report.

Nuggets dealing with extensive injury list

Nikola Jokic’s absence is only part of a broader problem for Denver. The Nuggets are currently without all five of their usual starters, making this one of the most challenging stretches of their season.

Jamal Murray remains sidelined with a left ankle injury, while Aaron Gordon is out due to a hamstring issue. Cameron Johnson is recovering from a right knee injury, and Christian Braun continues to deal with a left ankle problem. Backup center Jonas Valanciunas is also unavailable, further depleting Denver’s frontcourt depth.