Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic faces no less than 4 weeks on the sidelines after struggling a left knee harm in a defeat to Miami, the Nuggets confirmed on Wednesday.
However it’s a large sigh of aid for the Western Convention energy after pundits feared the worst for the three-time NBA Most Invaluable Participant.
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Jokic collapsed to the court docket after a collision with teammate Spencer Jones simply earlier than half-time in Tuesday’s sport in Miami.
The Serbian ace didn’t return to the sport after struggling the harm, which Nuggets coach David Adelman later described as “gut-wrenching”.
Replays of the incident confirmed Jokic’s knee buckling awkwardly after Jones stepped on his foot whereas defending, prompting concern of potential knee ligament injury.
Nonetheless the Nuggets confirmed in a press release on Tuesday that the 30-year-old had escaped severe harm, struggling solely a hyperextended left knee.
“Nikola will probably be re-evaluated in 4 weeks,” the group stated in a short assertion.
Main NBA reporter Shams Charania known as it “an immense sigh of aid as checks present (Jokic’s) knee ligaments are intact.”
The Nuggets are already coping with an harm disaster that has left them disadvantaged of standard starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun.
The difficulty of participant accidents within the NBA has been within the highlight this season, with gamers reminiscent of San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo spending important time on the sidelines.
In addition to Jokic, there have been extra grim harm bulletins on Monday with the Chicago Bulls shedding each Coby White and Josh Giddey throughout their defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
White exited within the first quarter with a calf downside, whereas Giddey limped out of the sport within the second half with a sore hamstring.
Some coaches and gamers have argued that the relentless grind of the NBA’s 82-game common season has contributed to the harm toll, though league commissioner Adam Silver stated earlier this month there was no statistical foundation indicating scheduling was guilty.