Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is set to be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering a hyperextended left knee during a 147-123 defeat to the Miami Heat on 29 December 2025. The team confirmed
the injury on 30 December 2025, while reports indicated that Jokic avoided ligament damage and is not expected to need surgery.
Medical tests showed all ligaments in Jokic's left knee remained intact, which is viewed as the best possible outcome for Denver. The timetable means the three-time NBA MVP may still feature in the All-Star Game scheduled for 15 February 2026, although Jokic is expected to miss around 16 games during the recovery period.
The Nuggets detailed the situation in an official update, stating that Jokic will be reassessed in four weeks after the hyperextension suffered against Miami. Shams Charania of ESPN reported the injury was not classified as severe, which eased fears of a long-term absence and confirmed the issue is not season-ending for Denver's franchise player.
Injury Update: Nikola Joki suffered a Left Knee Hyperextension injury during last night's game at the Miami Heat. Nikola will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/NIDmlKAN81Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025
The injury occurred in the final moments of the second quarter when Jokic landed awkwardly while defending under the rim. Teammate Spence Jones stepped on Jokic's foot, causing the left knee to buckle. Jokic immediately fell to the floor, clutching the front of the knee and showing clear discomfort before being helped to the bench and then to the locker room.
Jokic managed 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists in 19 minutes before being ruled out shortly after the third quarter started. Once Jokic was unavailable, Denver were dominated by Miami over the final two quarters, getting outscored 84-60, as the Nuggets fell to 22-10 but remained third in the Western Conference standings after the defeat.
Denver's recent track record without Jokic highlights the scale of the challenge. Over the past five seasons, the Nuggets have posted a 13-23 record when Jokic does not play. That history places further pressure on the current group, especially with regular starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson already unavailable through injuries.
Jokic has been widely viewed as the leading player in the NBA during this decade, finishing first or second in MVP voting in each of the previous five seasons. This campaign, Jokic is fifth in scoring with 29.6 points per game, leads the league with 12.2 rebounds per game and is also first in assists at 11.0 per game, underlining Jokic's central role in Denver's offence.
Efficiency numbers further underline Jokic's influence on the Nuggets. Jokic is shooting 60.5 per cent from the field and 43.5 per cent from three-point range, while recording a league-high 16 triple-doubles, which is nine more than Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, the next player on that list. Those figures explain why Denver face a difficult stretch during Jokic's absence.
With Jokic now joining Denver's growing injury list, the Nuggets must adjust rotations and tactics for at least the next month while aiming to protect their position near the top of the Western Conference. The medical staff will re-evaluate Jokic after four weeks, and any return timeline will depend on how the left knee responds to treatment and rehabilitation.
