Nikola Jokic raised concerns in Denver, but the final diagnosis brought relief. The Nuggets' Serbian center was diagnosed with a hyperextension of his left knee and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team reported Tuesday. Although it's a significant loss, the franchise avoided a much more serious scenario: there are no indications of an injury requiring surgery or that would jeopardize the rest of the season. According to the official report, Jokic also has a bone contusion in the same knee, according to ESPN. In practical terms, the three-time MVP could miss about a month of competition, which equates to about 16 games, with the possibility of returning before the NBA All-Star Game in February. The injury occurred Monday night in Denver's 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat. With just three seconds left in the first half, Jokic, who was alone under the basket, took a step forward to help defend a drive by Jaime Jaquez Jr. On the play, his teammate Spencer Jones stepped back and stepped on the Serbian's left foot, causing his knee to buckle slightly. Jokic immediately fell to the floor, visibly in pain, clutching his leg. He was helped to his feet and walked to the locker room with a noticeable limp, an image that generated immediate concern among both the coaching staff and the fans. The impact in Denver and a collective challenge. Before the injury, Jokic was having a historic season. Until Tuesday, he ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring with 29.6 points per game, in addition to leading the league in rebounds (12.2) and assists (11). The only similar precedent in NBA history belongs to Oscar Robertson, who averaged at least 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the 1961-62 season with the Cincinnati Royals. His absence comes at a delicate time for Denver, which was already dealing with multiple injuries. Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson have all been unavailable, forcing the team to rotate players and adjust roles. Even so,Despite losing four of their last six games, the Nuggets remain third in the Western Conference with a 22-10 record. That outlook could change without their star player. In the last five seasons, Denver has a 13-23 record in games played without Jokic, a statistic that reflects his importance to the team's performance. Furthermore, the Nuggets entered Tuesday's game with only a three-game lead over Phoenix, currently seventh in the West. Jamal Murray, the team's point guard, summed up the locker room's feeling after Monday's game, when the extent of the injury was still unknown: “Obviously, it's part of the game. But we never want it to happen… The next player has to step up. We have to focus on what we have.” Coach David Adelman reinforced that message, appealing to team unity: “We just have to stick together as a team. And honestly, we have to stick together as a team because that's the best way to support our injured teammates: by honoring them with our play. So we'll keep going. This is part of the NBA.”

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