Nikola Jokić made his much-anticipated return to the basketball court on Friday evening, hosting a game following a period of absence lasting over a month due to a knee ailment. Despite being on restricted playing time, he delivered an impressive performance, tallying 31 points and 12 rebounds to guide the Denver Nuggets to a 122-109 triumph against the Los Angeles Clippers.
In just 25 minutes of play, he efficiently converted 8 of his 11 field goal attempts and 13 of 17 free throws. This victory saw the Nuggets, now holding a 33-16 record, overcome the Clippers (22-25), a team that had recently been on a hot streak, securing 16 wins in their prior 19 matchups, including nine of their last ten.
The player, who has been named NBA MVP three times, had been sidelined since sustaining a bone bruise from hyperextending his left knee on December 29th.
Jokić had missed 16 consecutive contests. However, his return at this particular juncture positions the star center favorably to qualify for the league’s annual end-of-season accolades.
Generally, with some limited exceptions, a player needs to participate in at least 65 regular-season games to be considered for these distinctions, according to a league policy implemented before the 2023-24 season to address the issue of load management.
Jokić has now appeared in 33 games this season, with the Nuggets having 33 fixtures remaining. This implies he will likely have the allowance for one more absence throughout the remainder of the schedule.
Jokić’s season averages stand at 29.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, and a personal-best 10.8 assists per game. He is also shooting with remarkable efficiency, hitting 60.8% from the field and a career-high 43.9% from beyond the arc.
During Jokić’s absence, which marked the longest in his 11-season career, the Nuggets compiled a 10-6 record. They currently occupy the third spot in the Western Conference standings.
His injury occurred during a game where Denver suffered a defeat against the Miami Heat.
Towards the end of the first half, Jokić’s left knee gave way in the painted area after his teammate, Spencer Jones, inadvertently stepped backward onto the big man’s left foot. Jones was attempting to defend Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. at that moment.
Jokić collapsed to the floor and writhed in discomfort before eventually limping off the court.
The Nuggets managed to maintain their competitive edge even without their premier talent, benefiting from enhanced contributions from their supporting cast. Notably, wing Peyton Watson elevated his scoring, averaging 22.1 points across the 15 games he played without Jokić, compared to his 10.7 points per game in his preceding 30 appearances this season.
Even with Jokić back in the lineup, Watson sustained his strong play against the Clippers on Friday, contributing 21 points. Denver also received significant scoring from their bench, with Tim Hardaway Jr. adding 22 points.
Nonetheless, Jokić’s reintegration into the team was perfectly timed.
On Thursday, the Nuggets announced that forward Aaron Gordon would undergo re-evaluation in four to six weeks. This follows the aggravation of a right hamstring strain that had previously kept him off the court earlier in the season. Gordon is currently averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game, placing him third among Nuggets scorers in his 12th year in the league.
