Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is expected to make his return from a hyperextended left knee injury against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing 16 games since late December. The three-time MVP's comeback keeps him in contention for season awards, provided he meets the 65-game eligibility threshold. With the Nuggets holding a strong Western Conference position, his return bolsters their playoff push.
Nikola Jokic suffered the knee injury on December 29 during a game against the Miami Heat and was initially ruled out for at least four weeks. In his absence, the Nuggets compiled a 10-6 record, maintaining a 32-16 overall mark that places them third in the Western Conference, or half a game behind the San Antonio Spurs for second according to some reports. Jokic has appeared in 32 games this season, leaving him with 34 regular-season contests to reach the 65-game minimum for NBA awards and All-NBA honors. He can afford to miss only one more game to stay eligible.
Before the injury, Jokic was averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game, leading the NBA with 16 triple-doubles and a league-best player efficiency rating of 36.62. He shot a career-high 43.5% from three-point range. His MVP odds stand at +550 on FanDuel, trailing Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at -340, whose odds lengthened slightly from -425 following the news of Jokic's return. Gilgeous-Alexander has missed just two of the Thunder's 49 games, averaging 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists with a 32.04 PER, as Oklahoma City leads the West at 38-11.
The Nuggets face a demanding schedule ahead, starting with the Clippers on Friday, followed by the Thunder on Sunday, and then road games against the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks before the All-Star break. They also have four remaining games against the Thunder and two against the Spurs. Jokic is also expected to play against Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, the team announced that forward Aaron Gordon will miss at least four weeks with a right hamstring strain. Despite injuries to players like Christian Braun (ankle, 14 games played) and Cameron Johnson (28 games), standouts such as Jamal Murray (25.9 points, 7.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds) and Peyton Watson (14.5 points in a breakout season) have kept Denver competitive. The Nuggets are +600 favorites to win the NBA championship.
