By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Preparations for the game against the Miami Heat in Kaseya Center on Friday combine with the Denver Nuggets updating the status of Nikola Jokic.
The Joker has been listed as questionable for the next fixture with a right elbow sprain.
Suffering a setback during warmups before Wednesday’s clash with the Houston Rockets in Ball Arena, Jokic was ruled out for the game. In his absence, his side was defeated and forced to 24-16 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
Potentially missing Jokic for at least one more game would certainly be a major issue for head coach Michael Malone. Besides the international star with Serbia, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee) and DaRon Holmes II (right Achilles tendon) are listed as out, while Aaron Gordon (right calf) is questionable and Jamal Murray (left knee inflammation) is probable.
Jokic, 29, averaged 30.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per contest, appearing in 34 out of the 40 games played so far in the Regular Season. Possibly sitting out 12 more games the rest of the way, he would fall short of the requirements to be eligible for the annual season awards of the league, similar to Slovenian Luka Doncic.
Staying in Florida following the meeting with the Heat, the Nuggets will take on the Orlando Magic in Kia Center on the next edition of NBA Sundays. They currently trail the leaders of the Western Conference and co-leaders of the overall standings, the Oklahoma City Thunder, by ten games.