Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman voiced concern after Nikola Jokic left the court with a knee injury during a 147-123 defeat to the Miami Heat, with the three-time NBA MVP having led Denver in scoring before the incident interrupted another influential performance.
The injury occurred late in the second quarter on Monday, when Jokic went down holding the same left knee after team-mate Spencer Jones stepped on Jokic’s foot while recovering on defence, leaving the centre visibly uncomfortable as Denver assessed the damage during the heavy road loss.
Adelman confirmed after the game that Jokic is scheduled for an MRI scan on Tuesday, stressing that medical clarity will take time and that Jokic’s health comes before any tactical concerns, even
as Denver faces the prospect of adjusting if the centre misses extended time.
Adelman explained that the first reaction was alarm rather than tactics, saying staff and players sensed the seriousness of the moment when Jokic stayed down, especially with the Nuggets already struggling to contain Miami’s offence in a game that saw Denver concede 147 points.
Despite exiting before the end, Jokic still finished as Denver’s top scorer with 21 points, while also adding eight assists and five rebounds, underlining how central Jokic remains to the Nuggets’ structure at both ends, even on a night where the defending champions were well beaten.
Across the 2025-26 NBA season, Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists, with a 60.5% field-goal rate, numbers that highlight why any time on the sidelines for the 2023 Finals MVP would significantly alter Denver’s offensive rhythm and overall game strategy.
Jokic also entered the Miami matchup in strong form after another standout Christmas Day display, having become only the third player in league history to post multiple Christmas triple-doubles, recording 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a high-scoring showcase.
which captured league-wide fascination with Jokic’s current level.How does he do that? pic.twitter.com/yQXtV4zt7mDenver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025
Speaking more broadly about injuries in the league, Adelman reflected on the emotional impact on squads and coaches in a detailed assessment of the situation, saying: "Hey, this is part of the NBA. Anybody who gets hurt in this game, it's kind of gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is. We'll find out more tomorrow. We'll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that. It's just part of this process. You don't get definitive answers right after these things happen. I know he's an extremely special player that people want updates on right away; it makes total sense to me. But we'll go through the process properly, for him and for our team. Tonight my mind will wander. And it'll wonder about what we have to do going forward if he is out for a while or for a long time. "
Adelman’s comments underline the balance Denver must strike between long-term planning and short-term caution, as the franchise awaits the MRI results that will determine Jokic’s availability, shape upcoming rotation choices and influence how the Nuggets adjust their ambitions for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.
