Possible serious injury to Nikola Jokic!

Nikola Jokic, star of the Denver Nuggets, limped off the court at halftime of his team's 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night after injuring his left knee with just three seconds remaining in the second quarter. Things don't look good.

The Serbian center did not return for the second half and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.

"He immediately knew something was not right," Nuggets coach David Adelman explained after the game. "This is part of the NBA. Anyone getting hurt in this game is gut-wrenching, especially someone as special as him. Tomorrow we'll know more. We will move forward as a team. Right now, I'm more concerned about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like this."

The incident occurred when Jokic was alone under the basket and stepped forward to help Spencer Jones defend a drive by Jaime Jaquez Jr. As he backpedaled, Jones stepped on Jokic's left foot, and the center's knee appeared to give way. Jokic fell to the floor grabbing his knee, was helped up, and made his way to the locker room under his own power, albeit with a noticeable limp.

He was evaluated by doctors the same Monday night before leaving the arena. The Nuggets are set to fly to Toronto on Tuesday to face the Raptors on Wednesday.

"There are no definitive answers right after these things happen," Adelman added. "I know he is an extremely special player, and people want immediate updates, I understand that perfectly. But we will follow the process the right way, for him and for the team."

Jokic's potential absence comes at a difficult time for Denver, which has already had to deal with several physical issues this season. Against Miami, the Nuggets played without three expected starters: Christian Braun, due to a left ankle sprain; Aaron Gordon, with a right hamstring strain; and Cameron Johnson, managing a right knee injury.

Despite these absences, the team has managed to stay competitive largely thanks to Jokic himself. "What he's doing this year is truly remarkable," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra noted before the game.

Before the injury, Jokic had recorded 21 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds in the first half. If he is forced to miss an extended period, the impact would be significant for Denver and the NBA. A month-long absence would equate to around 16 games, with important consequences in the standings of the demanding Western Conference.

"Tonight my head is going to be spinning," Adelman acknowledged. "Thinking about what we will have to do if he is out for a while or for a long time."

Jokic is a three-time MVP and was once again in the running for the award this season. Before Monday's game, he was averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists, on track to achieve a triple-double average for a second consecutive season.

Jamal Murray's Reaction

"It's not just a big part of what we do; it's almost everything we do," Jamal Murray stated. "All we want is to see him healthy, and everyone here is ready to step up."

Moreover, Jokic has been one of the most durable players in the league. In the last five seasons, he has only missed 36 games, with the Nuggets holding a 13-23 record in those games. This season, he had played in all 32 of Denver's games until the injury.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¡Posible lesión gravísima de Nikola Jokic!