The Denver Nuggets’ road matchup against the Miami Heat on Monday took a sudden and alarming turn when Nikola Jokić was forced to exit midway through the second quarter. The three-time NBA MVP, who entered the night playing at an historic level, trudged off the floor with a pronounced limp, immediately shifting the focus from the game to his health.
Jokić did not return, and the Nuggets later confirmed he would miss the remainder of the contest. What initially looked like an awkward collision quickly became one of the most concerning moments of the Nuggets’ season.
How Nikola Jokić Suffered the Injury in Miami?
The injury occurred just before halftime when, teammate Spencer Jones inadvertently stepped on Jokić’s foot, causing the Serbian center’s left knee to buckle backward in a hyperextension motion.
The reaction was immediate. Jokić grimaced, grabbed at his knee, and slowly made his way to the locker room with assistance. Denver initially listed him as questionable to return before ruling him out entirely.
Before leaving the game, Jokić had already made his presence felt. He recorded 21 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in just 19 minutes of action. The game was tied 63–63 at halftime, but the Nuggets never recovered after losing its centerpiece, eventually falling 147–123 to Miami.
The loss came at a particularly fragile time for the Nuggets, who are already navigating injuries to key starters Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), and Cam Johnson (knee).
When Will Jokić Come Back?
Following the injury, medical professionals began weighing in based on a video review of the play.
Physical therapist Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT, identified the mechanism as a left knee hyperextension, noting that while there is immediate concern for ligament damage, NBA players often avoid catastrophic outcomes in similar situations.
“Left knee hyperextension,” Mueller wrote. “Concern for ACL injury, but often times in the NBA these hyperextensions wind up just being a sprain and bone bruise.”
Another medical analyst, Dr. Evan Jefferies, DPT, echoed that assessment while emphasizing the uncertainty without imaging.
“Best case scenario: hyperextension or bone bruise,” Jefferies initially explained. “Worst case scenario: ACL tear. You can’t clearly see if there’s a rotational component, which would be the biggest red flag.”
The timing could not be worse for Denver. Jokić has been arguably the league’s most dominant player this season, averaging career highs of 29.9 points and an NBA-leading 11 assists, while also pacing the league with 12.2 rebounds per game.
Despite the setback, the Nuggets remain third in the Western Conference at 22–10. Still, any extended absence for Jokić would dramatically alter Denver’s championship outlook, especially with multiple starters already sidelined.
Just in: Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic has been diagnosed with a hyperextension in his left knee and will miss at least four weeks. An immense sigh of relief as tests show the three-time NBA MVP’s knee ligaments are intact. pic.twitter.com/u8qLE0GDd3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 30, 2025
It has been announced that the Nuggets superstar will be sidelined for at least four weeks, and that he has suffered a hyperextension, just like Jefferies hoped for.
