Denver Nuggets center and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic left Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter after a knee-on-knee collision with Rudy Gobert.
Jokic, who was defending a drive by Gobert on the play, suffered a right knee contusion. After initially being deemed questionable to return, the Nuggets later ruled him out for good.
Oh no, Jokic is down holding his knee! 😔 pic.twitter.com/DCuFXi7jzE
— ✯✯✯✯✯ (@FTBVids_YT) October 27, 2021
The incident took place with just under two minutes remaining in the opening half. The Serbian big man had 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting (3-of-3 from distance) while also adding six assists and six rebounds before heading to the locker room.
A serious injury to Jokic would present a worst-case scenario for the Nuggets, who are already without Jamal Murray for an indefinite period after he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in April.
However, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone downplayed concerns about his center's health postgame.
"I don't think it's anything too, too serious," Malone said, courtesy of Mike Singer of The Denver Post.
Jokic claimed the first MVP award of his career last season after putting up 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 38.8% from three in all 72 games. The 26-year-old was averaging 27.7 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists in three contests heading into Tuesday.
