Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic injures knee vs. Miami Heat

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Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic sustained a left knee injury in the second quarter of a loss to the Miami Heat and did not return.

Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters Monday in Miami that Jokic would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. The Nuggets center entered Monday averaging a career-high 29.9 points. He also led the NBA with 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game.

"All I know is that it's a left knee injury," Adelman said. "He has to go through the whole process of what it is. Watching it at halftime, it looked like his feet got tangled up with a teammate.

"Obviously, immediately, he knew something was wrong. This is part of the NBA. Anybody who gets hurt in this game, it's kinda gut-wrenching. Especially somebody as special as he is. We will find out more [Tuesday] and move on as a team."

The Nuggets led 63-61 with about six seconds remaining in the first half at the time of Jokic's injury sequence. Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. dribbled into the paint while being defended by forward Spencer Jones.

Jaquez used his right arm to create separation from Jones, who fell backwards and stepped on Jokic's left foot. Jokic immediately went down to the floor in pain, while grabbing at his left knee. Nuggets trainers scurried into the area and assisted Jokic, who went to the locker room. He did not return in the second half.

Despite playing for just 19:21, Jokic still led the Nuggets with 21 points. He also chipped in eight assists and five rebounds in the 147-123 setback.

The Heat outshot the Nuggets 60.4% to 46.8% in the second half, including a 64% to 35% advantage from 3-point range. Heat guard Norman Powell scored a game-high 25 points, including 13 in the Heat's 47-point third quarter.

Forward Nicola Jovic scored 22 off the Heat bench. Jaquez finished with 20 points and 11 assists. Fellow Heat forward Andrew Wiggins and center Kel'el Ware scored 19 points apiece. Heat forward Bam Adebayo logged 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray totaled 20 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in the loss.

Backup center Jonas Valanciunas logged six points and four rebounds over 15:41 of action, including 11:02 in the second half. Nuggets forward Daron Holmes, who did not play in the first half, played a season-high 8:16 in the second.

Adelman said he is "hoping for the best," when asked about Jokic's injury.

"My mind will wander," Adelman said. "And it'll wonder about what we have to do going forward if he is out for a while or for a long time. I keep saying this, you just keep reinventing yourself all the time."

The Nuggets (22-10) sit in third place in the Western Conference, behind the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder (28-5) and San Antonio Spurs (23-9). They will take on the Toronto Raptors (20-14) at 7:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday in Toronto. The Raptors are the No. 4 team in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat (18-15), who sit in sixth place in the East, will meet the conference-leading Detroit Pistons (24-8) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Detroit.

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