Nikola Jokic will miss extended time with a hyperextended knee injury

Denver Nuggets triple MVP Nikola Jokic will miss approximately four to six weeks after that left knee hyperextension against the Miami Heat on Monday night, league sources told ClutchPoints on Tuesday morning.

The good news about Jokic is that he did not suffer any significant damage to his knee ligaments, thus avoiding the catastrophic scenario of the MVP candidate missing the rest of the season. Jokic will miss at least four weeks before the team evaluates his progress and assesses his status in the rehabilitation process.

Jokic now joins Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown and Cam Johnson on the sideline in Denver, as all four starters have suffered injuries that have forced them to miss weeks of action. Jamal Murray is left as the Nuggets’ lone, healthy starter.

In 32 games this season, Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game, while shooting 60.5 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from 3-point range. It’s currently on top MVP of the ClutchPoints rankings.

The injury occurred Monday night in Miami at the end of the second quarter. While on defense with seconds remaining in the first half, the Nuggets are ahead Spencer Jones stepped back onto Jokic’s left leg as the center moved to defend Heat center Kel’el Ware.

As his left knee buckled and extended backwards, Jokic immediately fell to the ground, clutching his knee in great pain. He was helped into the locker room with the big temple and he was The Nuggets quickly shut down at halftime.

“All I know is that Jokic has a left knee injury and he has to go through the process of what it is,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said in postgame comments. “This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it hurts. Especially someone as special as him.”

“We’ll find out more tomorrow and move on as a team. I’m more worried about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that. It’s unfortunate and we hope for the best.”

Now that Jokic will be out for at least a month with a left knee injury, his MVP campaign this season is likely over. Players must play at least 65 games during the regular season to be eligible for season-ending honors, and if Jokic is reevaluated on Jan. 27, he will miss a total of 16 games.

It’s an unfortunate end to Jokic’s MVP bid this year, especially considering he’s been one of the most durable players in the NBA.

In the midst of his 11th season, Jokic has never missed more than 13 games. This left knee hyperextension will force him to miss the most time of his career due to a single injury.

Without Jokic on the court, the Nuggets will rely on Jonas Valanciunas, Zeke Nnaji and Darron Holmes II as their frontcourt options. Denver could also opt to go smaller, with Gordon playing center when he returns from a hamstring injury.

However, there is no substitute for Jokic on the court, as his influence is greater than any player in the NBA. Without Jokic on the court, Denver recorded a negative net rating this season.

At 22-10 overall, Adelman and the Nuggets will have to get really creative to maintain success without their MVP candidate under center.