Nuggets star Nikola Jokic suffers knee injury, leaves game vs. Heat

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post on Dec 29, 2025

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Nikola Jokic limped to the locker room after injuring his left knee three seconds before halftime of the Nuggets’ game in Miami on Monday night.

Jokic’s left leg extended then buckled after the right foot of Denver’s Spencer Jones landed on his left foot during a defensive possession. In a nightmare visual for every Denver sports fan, Jokic crumpled to the ground holding his knee as the half ended. He had 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists in the half — numbers on pace to tie Oscar Robertson for the second-most career triple-doubles in NBA history by the end of the night.

The three-time MVP center was officially designated as questionable with a knee injury. Jonas Valanciunas started the second half in his place.

Jokic, 30, has not missed a game this season while averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists. The Nuggets (22-9) were already playing without three starters Monday, with Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson all sidelined by injuries.

Regarded as one of the most durable superstars in the NBA, Jokic has missed only 36 regular-season games since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.