Nikola Jokic injury: Here’s how bad Nuggets center’s injury could be, according to doctors (UPDATE)

20 hours ago 1

Update: According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Nikola Jokic was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee and will miss at least a month.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic suffered a left knee injury Monday night and limped to the locker room during a 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat, leaving the three-time MVP’s availability uncertain.

With five seconds remaining in the second quarter, Jokic was standing in the paint, waiting to provide defensive support, positioned there in case Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. drove deeper into the lane. As Jaquez drove to the basket, he pushed off Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, who was guarding him.

As Jones stumbled backward, he bumped into Jokic, who collapsed onto the floor holding his left knee. He remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped up by trainers and limping off to the locker room.

Jesse Morse, a doctor who specializes in regenerative medicine and anti-aging while also providing NFL injury analysis, said there could be a wide range of possibilities regarding Jokic’s injury.

“Best case scenario this is a bone bruise due to a hyperextension,” Morse said. “Worst case, but very possible, is that this is an ACL tear. Hoping for the best.”

Dr. David Chao, a former head team physician for the then-San Diego Chargers, gave a potential timeline if Jokic did not tear his ACL.

“By video, expecting hyperextension bone bruise,” Chao said. “Will miss time (weeks) but hoping ACL spared and not season-ending.”

Jeff Mueller, a doctor of physical therapy and fantasy football injury analyst, gave a similar diagnosis.

“Concern for ACL injury but oftentimes in the NBA these hyperextensions wind up just being a sprain plus bone bruise,” Mueller said. “Hopefully he avoided worst-case scenario.”

Jokic had been playing at a high level again this season, averaging a triple-double in 32 games: 29.6 points, 12.2 total rebounds and 11 assists per game. On Christmas against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he scored 56 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and had 15 assists on Christmas, making him the first player in NBA history with 55-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and 15-plus assists in a game.

Jokic was eventually diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, meaning he will be out for at least four weeks.

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