Nikola Jokic Expected to Return Friday Against Clippers
nikola-jokic-expected-to-return-friday-against-clippers
Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic plans to play Friday night when Denver hosts the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The three-time MVP has been sidelined since December 29 because of a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, missing the team’s last 16 games. Charania previously indicated in mid-January that Denver hoped Jokic would be back before the end of the month, though he added on Tuesday that the club might wait until next week to ensure the center was fully recovered.
A Friday return would allow Jokic to avoid missing his 17th and 18th games, a threshold that would have made him ineligible for postseason awards under the NBA’s 65-game minimum. If the 28-year-old plays every remaining contest, he would finish the regular season with 66 appearances.
Before the injury, Jokic was averaging a career-best 29.6 points along with an NBA-leading 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists, shooting .605 from the field, .435 from three and .853 at the free-throw line.
Denver went 10-6 during his absence to hold the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference, but the rotation remains thin. Forward Aaron Gordon is expected to miss four to six weeks with a right hamstring strain, and starting guard Christian Braun has appeared in only three games since November 12 because of an ankle issue. Fellow center Jonas Valanciunas has also been working his way back from injury.
Jokic is on track to suit up for back-to-back home games against the Clippers on Friday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
Source: Hoops Rumors
