Harrison Wind: Nikola Jokic (ankle) will not play tomorrow vs Lakers. No updated timetable has been announced for his return. Wilson Chandler (back) is questionable after missing Denver’s last two games.
More on Nikola Jokic Injury
Adrian Wojnarowski: Further evaluation on left ankle of Denver's Nikola Jokic set for Friday, but there's cautious optimism that injury is no more than a sprain, league source tells ESPN. X-rays negative.
Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ leading scorer and emerging star center, rolled his left ankle in the first half against the Bulls on Thursday at the Pepsi Center and exited the game early. He did not return to the game after the team diagnosed him with a left ankle sprain. “I’ll go back and talk to our docs. Thank goodness it’s only a sprain,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “Good thing is, he’s not an athletic big, so he doesn’t have to jump a lot.”
Gina Mizell: #Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Nikola Jokic (ankle) and Wilson Chandler (back) are going to give it a go tonight against the Grizzlies. But did not reveal his starting lineup.
Chris Dempsey: Jokic went back to the locker room to get his right ankle re-taped. He's on the court now, and just scored.
Gina Mizell: Nikola Jokic goes to the floor with an apparent right ankle injury. Was clearly in a ton of pain, but was just able to walk off under own power. #Nuggets
Michael Gallagher: Jokic may have slightly stepped on PJ Tucker's foot. Not much of an ankle roll, but he's going to the locker room.
TJ McBride: Nuggets updated injury report:
Kyle Draper: Nikola Jokic tells me he will play tonight. Says chest still congested. #Nuggets #Celtics #nba @CelticsCSN #denver
TJ McBride: Nikola Jokic is questionable but Malone is saying that he wants to give it a go tonight. Looks like Malone thinks he will play.
Chris Dempsey: #Nuggets C Nikola Jokic (illness) is OUT of tonight's game vs. Sacramento. Mason Plumlee will start in his place
Charles F. Gardner: Denver coach Michael Malone said this morning forward Nikola Jokic will return from hip injury tonight vs. Bucks.
Chris Dempsey: Will Barton (ankle) is out of tonight's game vs. the Lakers. As are Jokic and Mudiay. Everyone else is in. #Nuggets.
Chris Dempsey: Wondering when Nikola Jokic could return? #Nuggets coach Michael Malone gives a bit of a glimpse into that here. This is from Saturday. "When we got the news that it was a lot less severe than we all anticipated and he could be back as early as sometime in the middle of next week, that's great. That's great for him, most importantly because you don't want to see a guy hurt. And it's great for our team."
Chris Dempsey: It has already been determined that Jokic will not play tomorrow vs. Phoenix. He is not making the trip there. #nuggets
Jokic was helped to his feet and limped straight back to the locker room. The scare, though, that this could have been a significant injury, appears to be only that. Jokic is said to have a left hip strain. X-rays were negative, but Jokic, who led the Nuggets to a 127-120 victory over Phoenix on Thursday, will have an MRI on Friday. “It’s good news for us,” teammate Will Barton said. “He’s been playing out of this world for us; our best player. It would be tough to see him go down for a long time. I’m just happy he’s fine.”
Alex Kennedy: Nikola Jokic is getting X-rays on his hip and knee, per source. We may get an update on his status tonight.
The short-term outlook for Nuggets center Nikola Jokic’s sprained wrist isn’t great. He’ll likely at least be out the next three games, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Saturday. Jokic missed his second consecutive game Saturday night. “Talking to Nikola, he wants to play right when he can catch the ball,” Malone said. “I think we’ll probably be a little more cautious than that on this road trip, maybe get it looked at again just to kind of see where it’s at once the swelling goes down.”
