Nikola Jokic Injury Scare: What We Know, Timeline Updates, and the Impact on the MVP Race
The NBA landscape shifted on its axis on Monday night, December 29, 2025, when the basketball world watched in collective silence as Nikola Jokic—the three-time MVP and current frontrunner for a fourth—clutched his left knee on the hardwood of the Kaseya Center in Miami. For a player known for his legendary durability, the sight of "The Joker" limping to the locker room was more than just a box score update; it felt like a potential turning point for the Denver Nuggets' championship aspirations. Here is everything we know about the injury, the immediate fallout, and what this means for the MVP race. The Play That Halted Denver The injury occurred in the final seconds of the second quarter during a high-stakes matchup against the Miami Heat. In a sequence that looked like a freak accident rather than a malicious play, Jokic’s teammate, rookie Spencer Jones, inadvertently stepped on Jokic’s left foot while backstepping on defense. The contact caused Jokic’s left knee to ...