Nikola Jokic left Tuesday’s 122-110 loss to the Utah Jazz in the first half with a knee injury and didn’t return.
The Denver Nuggets center and reigning NBA MVP bumped right knees with Rudy Gobert as the Jazz center drove to the basket late in the first half. Jokic immediately fell to the court and clutched his knee in pain. He eventually attempted to walk the injury off before leaving for the Nuggets locker room.
The Nuggets announced at halftime that Jokic suffered a knee contusion and was questionable to return. After he didn’t return for the third quarter, the Nuggets ruled him out for the rest of the game.
Jokic’s long-term prognosis wasn’t immediately clear. After the game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone sounded optimistic about the injury.
Jokic was off to a hot start against the Jazz, tallying 24 points, six rebounds and six assists in the first half. He was the game’s leading scorer despite playing less than a half. Will Barton, who reportedly jammed his thumb late in the game, scored 21 points.
For the Jazz, Gobert had 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Through three games entering Tuesday, Jokic had picked up on his MVP pace, averaging 27.7 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and 2.7 steals in a 2-2 Nuggets start.
