Jokic made it clear that he did not regret taking part due to what he saw as a lack of respect. McDaniels broke the unwritten rule all NBA players follow. Jokic said McDaniels’ scoring toward the end of a one-sided game pushed him over the edge, he said, per ESPN. “I don’t regret it,” he said postgame. “Because he scored after everybody stopped playing.”

After the clash between McDaniels and Jokic, Julius Randle stepped in to defend his teammate, which intensified the situation and led to both Jokic and Randle being ejected from the floor with just one second remaining in the game.

Jokic and Randle fined

Nikola Jokic was fined $50,000, and Julius Randle received a $35,000 fine, on the other hand, for their roles in the Denver Nuggets-Minnesota Timberwolves Game 4 fight, the NBA announced Sunday.

Both teams were set to meet again in Denver for Game 5, with the Wolves holding a commanding 3-1 series lead and now one win away from eliminating the Nuggets. And it was better that there were no suspensions, so they could be seen in action with that edge already established.

In addition, the 3-1 situation was not favorable at all for the Nuggets; however, the Timberwolves would now deal with the absence of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, both due to injury.

Jokic praises Gobert

Nikola Jokic threw shade at the officials while praising Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, as he had been one of the key factors behind the Serbian star’s inconsistent performance.

Jokic finished with 24 points on 8-22 shooting, 15 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals. On the other side, Gobert finished with 15 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, two assists, and four points, making his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor, holding Jokic to 36.3% shooting.

“Average…It’s a little bit of everything. You know, I’m not shooting the ball really well, especially from the three, and you know, Rudy is doing a good job with being physical, testing the officials, contesting shots,’’ Jokic said. “You know, he’s a really good defender. And not just him, they play very good … they’re big, long, tall, handsy, trippy, they’re bumping you, so… I think I answered your question.”

As confirmed by both teams, Wembanyama has been ruled out of the matchup, while Jokic is ready to go and will start for Denver. Despite both teams having already secured their postseason positioning, there was a high level of anticipation to see the two generational talents go head-to-head one last time before the playoffs.

Wembanyama officially logged his 65th game of the season recently, meeting the league’s minimum requirement to qualify for postseason awards. Conversely, Jokic needs just 15 minutes of floor time today to satisfy the 65-game rule, a move that would officially solidify his status as a primary challenger to Wembanyama in this year’s MVP race.

Leading into this Spurs-Nuggets clash, the MVP debate has reached a fever pitch. Wembanyama has garnered massive support from the NBA community for his historic rim protection and two-way dominance, while Jokic continues to operate at a masterful, high-efficiency level on a nightly basis.

What is on the line in the season finale?

While Wembanyama manages left ribcage soreness and Jokic has been dealing with right wrist injury management, there are significant statistical implications at stake—specifically for Jokic. Thus, it makes sense why the Serbian star is being sent out onto the court at Frost Bank Center.

If Jokic logs the necessary minutes to qualify for the MVP ballot, the game still holds weight for Denver’s seeding. The Nuggets are currently battling for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, locked in a tight race with the Los Angeles Lakers for that final home-court advantage spot.

On the other hand, the Spurs have put together a remarkable campaign, sitting at 62-19 and having already locked up the No. 2 seed in the West. Given the circumstances, both franchises weighed the benefit of momentum against the risk of injury as the NBA playoffs loom. In the end, Wembanyama won’t be put in harm’s way, whereas Jokic will play regardless.

While his status is up in the air, there is a strong possibility Jokic will take the floor as the Nuggets look to improve their seeding. The Nuggets currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and are eyeing a win to stay ahead of the fourth-place Lakers, a move that could help them avoid a matchup with OKC until a potential Western Conference Finals showdown.

Coming off a 136-119 victory over the Grizzlies on Wednesday, the Nuggets enter tonight on an impressive 10-game winning streak. They have a prime opportunity to extend that run to 11, as the Thunder have already ruled out nearly their entire starting lineup for rest and injury management.

Nuggets’ injury report pile-up

Jokic isn’t the only key name on the report for Denver. Joining him with a questionable designation are:

• Jamal Murray (right shoulder impingement)
• Aaron Gordon (right hamstring injury management)
• Christian Braun (left ankle injury management / right hip flexor strain)
• Cameron Johnson (right ankle injury management)

Jokic’s MVP-caliber campaign

The Serbian star has been the driving force for Denver all season and is a frontrunner for the MVP award alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama.

Jokic is averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists through 64 games. Notably, with just two games left in the season, he needs only one more appearance to officially meet the 65-game requirement for end-of-season awards.

Jamal Murray is also putting up career numbers this year. The Canadian guard is averaging career-highs in points (25.4), rebounds (4.4), and assists (7.1) through 75 games, solidifying one of the most productive seasons of his career.

According to the latest official NBA injury report, the Nuggets have listed Nikola Jokic as questionable with a left ankle sprain for tonight’s game in Chicago. Denver desperately need their three-time MVP to help snap a disappointing three-game losing streak.

It is undoubtedly a major concern for the Nuggets to have their franchise cornerstone back on the injury report, especially considering Jokic previously missed 16 games in January due to a knee injury.

However, fans may find some relief in the fact that the current issue is localized to his ankle, suggesting he has moved past the knee complications that sidelined him for a month.

Since returning to action on January 30, Jokic has appeared in every game. While the team is just 1-3 in that span, his presence is vital as Denver looks to correct its course and regain momentum in the Western Conference standings.

Both teams dealing with significant absences

The Nuggets are hoping Jokic can suit up, as they are already missing several key rotation players. Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), Peyton Watson (right hamstring strain), Spencer Jones (concussion protocol), and Tamar Bates (left foot surgery) have all been ruled out.

Additionally, Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) and Cameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise) are also listed as questionable. If these players are unable to go, the Nuggets will be heavily reliant on Jokic to shoulder the load and secure a much-needed road victory.

On the other side, the Bulls also enter this matchup severely shorthanded. Guards Josh Giddey and Tre Jones remain out with left hamstring strains, creating a significant backcourt void for the Chicago franchise. Like Denver, the Bulls are also struggling, currently riding their own three-game losing streak.

Nikola Jokic made a somewhat surprising return from injury in the Denver Nuggets’ 122–109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Ball Arena on Friday. Jokic had missed 16 games with a left knee injury, which kept him just within the NBA’s MVP eligibility threshold. However, the three-time MVP made it clear postgame that individual awards were far from his priority. When asked about the requirement, Jokic responded bluntly, saying, “Not even a little bit.”

Under NBA rules, players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season awards. That means Jokic can afford to miss only one more game. Based on his comments, it does not appear that Jokic is willing to push his body simply to meet an awards benchmark.

This rule has drawn criticism from analysts and fans alike, who argue that it places unnecessary pressure on elite players to return prematurely from injury. Even if Jokic were to produce one of the best seasons of his career statistically, surpassing the allowed number of missed games would automatically remove him from MVP consideration, potentially increasing the risk of long-term injury.

Jokic’s performance in his return

Despite expectations of rust, Jokic looked dominant against the Clippers. The Serbian superstar had hyperextended his left knee against the Miami Heat on December 29, 2025, keeping him sidelined for more than a month. Yet, his impact was immediate and unmistakable.

Jokic finished the night with 31 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in just 25 minutes of action. Although he played under a minute restriction, the Nuggets center controlled the game with his usual efficiency and composure, reminding everyone why Denver remained competitive even while awaiting his return.

The Jokic scare that worried everyone

Initial concern around Jokic’s injury was severe. When he went down in pain against the Heat, fears quickly emerged that he may have torn his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season. Jamal Murray, Denver’s starting guard, admitted he feared the worst, and Jokic later addressed whether he shared that concern.

Jokic is now averaging 29.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game during the 2025–26 NBA season. While many expected the Nuggets to struggle without him, several teammates stepped up in his absence. Still, Jokic’s return reaffirmed that Denver’s ceiling ultimately depends on the presence of its generational superstar.

Nikola Jokic appears close to returning from injury sooner than originally expected. According to Shams Charania, Jokic is trending toward playing tonight, although he is updated for will start and have minutes per coach Adelman. His potential return would mark the end of a short absence caused by a knee issue.

On Jamal Murray’s side, he is currently listed as probable. Team officials are expected to provide definitive confirmation closer to tip-off. Murray recently posted 27 points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 33 minutes during Denver’s 107-103 win over the Brooklyn Nets, reinforcing his importance to the Nuggets’ offensive rhythm.

What happened to Jokic?

Jokic was in the middle of another stellar campaign before suffering a hyperextended knee last month, which the team later diagnosed as a bone bruise, according to the Nuggets’ official injury report. His pregame workload has increased in recent days, and the urgency around his return has grown after forward Aaron Gordon re-aggravated a hamstring injury, leaving Denver thinner in the frontcourt rotation.

The Serbian center originally sustained the injury during a Dec. 29 loss to the Miami Heat, and the initial evaluation projected a month-long recovery window. In recent warmups, Jokic has been seen performing light dribbling and shooting drills while wearing a protective black knee pad. Nuggets head coach David Adelman noted in a radio interview that the organization hoped Jokic would return before the NBA All-Star break.

Jokic’s performance this season

Jokic must reach the NBA’s 65-game threshold to remain eligible for major individual awards, including Most Valuable Player. He missed his 16th game of the season in Denver’s win over Brooklyn, meaning his margin for further absences is extremely slim for the remainder of the regular season.

Despite the injury setback, Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and a career-high 11.0 assists across 32 appearances in the 2025-26 regular season. He is also shooting a career-best 43.5 percent from three-point range, numbers that once again place him firmly in the MVP conversation and underline why his availability is crucial for the Nuggets’ championship aspirations.

Austin Reaves was once viewed as a short-term surprise, but he has firmly established himself as a core piece for the Lakers. His development has been so significant that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has fielded numerous trade inquiries for the guard over the past year.

NBA analyst Jason McIntyre recently reported on The Herd that the Lakers have rejected 20 trade offers involving Reaves during that span. According to the report, Los Angeles would only consider moving him in a blockbuster deal that returns two NBA superstars.

“There are reports out there that the Lakers have turned down, wait for it, 20 offers in the last year for Austin Reaves,” McIntyre said. “The report goes on to say Pelinka is only interested in dealing Reaves in a package for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic. I did laugh when I first heard that.”

The Lakers and the value placed on Reaves

While the asking price may seem unrealistic, it reflects how highly the Lakers value Reaves internally. The 27-year-old is averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game during the 2025–26 season while shooting 50.7 percent from the field, making this the most productive year of his career.

Reaves has become far more than a complementary player, emerging as a reliable offensive option and a consistent presence alongside the team’s stars. His performance places him firmly in the conversation for a potential first All-Star selection in 2026.

The chances of such a trade happening

Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks remains uncertain. Milwaukee currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 17–24 record, fueling speculation about whether the two-time MVP could request a move before the deadline or during the offseason.

If Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, becomes available, any Lakers offer would almost certainly include Reaves.

However, Nikola Jokic is not viewed as a realistic target. The Denver Nuggets are third in the Western Conference at 29–14, and there has been no indication that the Serbian star is interested in leaving a roster that continues to win even in his absence.

After logging just 19 minutes against the Miami Heat in Monday night’s NBA regular-season matchup, Jokic was forced to exit the floor with a knee injury, sparking concerns about potential ligament damage that could impact his availability for the rest of the season.

Prior to his departure, Jokic was putting on a stellar performance, amassing 21 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Ultimately, the Nuggets fell to the Heat, but the primary focus shifted to updates regarding Jokic’s injury status.

Amidst growing anxiety among the fanbase, early reports from the team suggest optimistic news. Jokic’s condition is not as severe as initially feared, and the injury is not considered season-ending.

How long will Jokic be out?

Nikola Jokic is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks, according to Charania on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic has been diagnosed with a hyperextension in his left knee and will miss at least four weeks,” Charania reported, offering an update on the Nuggets’ pivotal player’s condition.

Now, Jokic will enter in a phase that he will need to take a rest and recover as soon as he can, in order to help Denver during the rest of the regular season, as the Nuggets want to make it to the playoffs next year.

With this situation going on, Jamal Murray is set to be one of the players that step up for the team in the upcoming games, until Jokic comes back to the floor, at least to the end of January.

Jokic finished the night with a staggering 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, making him the first player in NBA history to record a 55-15-15 game. His scoring output also marked the third-highest total in NBA Christmas Day history, trailing only Bernard King’s 60 points in 1984 and Wilt Chamberlain’s 59 in 1961.

With this performance, the Joker joined an elite fraternity—including King, Chamberlain, Rick Barry, and Luka Doncic—as the only players to ever reach the 50-point plateau on Christmas Day.

Jokic’s dominance spanned the entire contest, but his takeover in the extra period was unprecedented. Of his 56 points, 18 came in the five-minute overtime, breaking the previous NBA record of 17 points in an overtime period set by Stephen Curry in 2016.

This brilliant triple-double was the second of Jokic’s career on December 25th, with the first coming in 2022. He now joins Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles on Christmas Day.

The Nuggets needed every bit of Jokic’s heroics, as the team was severely short-handed due to injuries to Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun. Jokic found a formidable running mate in Jamal Murray, who fueled the win with 35 points and 10 assists.

Jokic climbs all-time Christmas scoring ranks

The scoring surge allowed the Serbian center to leapfrog several legends on the all-time Christmas Day scoring list. Jokic has now cracked the top 20 with 195 career points on the holiday, moving past icons such as Michael Jordan, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain.

Perhaps most impressive is the efficiency of his climb: Jokic has reached these heights in just six career Christmas Day appearances. For comparison, the all-time leader LeBron James sits atop the list with 525 points across 20 appearances.

Before the upcoming matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wembanyama spoke with ESPN about his recovery and broader topics surrounding the NBA landscape. As the Spurs prepared to face reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the French phenom took the opportunity to praise his opponent while drawing a clear line in the ongoing best player discussion.

“Jokic is the best offensive player, but I don’t think he’s the best player,” Wembanyama said when asked to name the NBA’s top talent. He narrowed the conversation to two names, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, emphasizing their complete impact on both ends of the floor and signaling his belief that dominance extends beyond scoring efficiency alone.

Wembanyama went a step further by projecting confidence in his own future standing. “When I come back to the court, it will be me,” he added, reinforcing the self belief that has defined his rookie season. The 7 foot 5 center was set to return after missing 12 games with a left calf strain, an absence that temporarily slowed his momentum but did little to quiet the conversation around his ceiling.

Wembanyama’s numbers this season

Prior to the injury, Wembanyama was averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field. His production placed him firmly in early season MVP discussions, and he has consistently stated that he expects to elevate his play even further once fully healthy.

The controversial comment

Leaving Jokic out of the best player conversation was the most polarizing aspect of Wembanyama’s remarks. The Denver Nuggets superstar has long been praised for his intelligence, efficiency, and ability to control games, making his exclusion surprising to many around the league.

Jokic currently owns the best defensive rating on the Nuggets at 111.4, a detail often overlooked due to his offensive brilliance. Still, Wembanyama pointed to defense as a deciding factor, suggesting that overall dominance requires elite impact on both sides of the ball.

In contrast, Gilgeous-Alexander has anchored one of the league’s strongest defensive units with the Thunder, while Giannis Antetokounmpo remains widely regarded as one of the NBA’s premier two way forces and a former Defensive Player of the Year. Whether fans agree or not, Wembanyama’s comments reinforced a growing reality: his voice already carries weight in defining the NBA’s present and future.

According to the latest official NBA injury report, the Nuggets have listed Nikola Jokic as probable (left wrist sprain) and Jamal Murray as questionable (right ankle sprain) for tonight’s contest in Indiana.

A positive signal for Denver fans is that both players were also included on the injury report for the previous contest against the Mavericks, where they ultimately played significant minutes.

Up to this point, Jokic has not missed any games this season and remains the undisputed leader of the Nuggets. The Serbian is averaging 29 points on 62.1% shooting from the field and 43.8% from deep, and he leads the league with 12.8 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game.

On Murray’s side, he has only missed one game this season and is a vital piece of David Adelman’s team. The Canadian guard is averaging a career-high 23.3 points along with 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 19 games, while he is shooting 48.3% from the floor and 41.5% from deep.

Complete injury report for both teams

The Nuggets hope to have both stars in the lineup as they are dealing with several injuries: Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), and Julian Strawther (lower back injury management) are all ruled out for the game against the Pacers.

However, the Pacers are dealing with more serious roster depletion. They still cannot count on star Tyrese Haliburton, who is recovering from his Achilles tendon injury.

Pacers players ruled out for tonight include: Quenton Jackson (right hamstring strain), Kam Jones (lower back), Aaron Nesmith (left knee sprain), and Obi Toppin (right foot). Additionally, Johnny Furphy (left ankle sprain) is listed as questionable.