Nikola Jokic is on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report ahead of their first of four meetings against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The three-time league MVP is listed as probable with a knee injury.
Jokic made a return to the lineup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday after missing 16 games due to injury. Playing for the first time in over a month, Jokic finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals in 25 minutes, leading Denver to a 13-point win.
By doing so, he became the first player in NBA history to record 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in fewer than 25 minutes. Jokic is expected to suit up again. A probable designation means the likelihood of him playing is higher than sitting out.
Head coach David Adelman said the team is still managing Jokic’s minutes.
“The foul trouble helped in the first half,” Adelman said after the Clippers game. “As we pulled away at the end, I got him out. At most, he probably would have played three more minutes. We’re trying to balance it with the information we’ve been given, but he was very impactful.”
The Nuggets have a three-game road trip coming up, and it will be worth monitoring how the coaching staff continues to increase Jokic’s minutes and when he will be ready to play without restrictions. Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 10.8 assists on 51/33/81 shooting splits in 33 games this season.
Nikola Jokic stats vs OKC Thunder
Nikola Jokic has averaged 21.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in 35 games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has been on the winning side 21 times. When the teams last met on March 10, 2025, Jokic scored 35 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists on 15-of-20 shooting in a 140-127 win.
Jokic is favored to score under 24.5 points, which is below his season scoring average (per Covers.com). In 13 games through December, Jokic averaged 30.6 points on 56/41/85 shooting splits, leading the MVP race before going down with injury.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
