Nuggets reel from Jokic injury, Thunder rout Hawks

AFP | Los Angeles

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Nikola Jokic suffered a “gut-wrenching ” knee injury as the Denver Nuggets crashed to a heavy 147-123 defeat against the Miami Heat in the NBA on Monday.

Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic exited in the final seconds of the first half of Denver’s loss in Miami after an accidental collision with teammate Spencer Jones.

The 30-year-old Serbian superstar collapsed to the court in agony after his left leg appeared to buckle after Jones stepped on his foot while attempting to defend a drive.

Jokic, who had scored 21 points, did not reappear for the second half and Miami capitalised to outscore the Nuggets 84-60 after the break to cruise to victory.

Nuggets coach David Adelman said the team had yet to determine the severity of Jokic’s injury. The center was set to undergo an MRI scan yesterday.

“All I know is that Jokic has a left knee injury and he needs to go through the process. I watched it at half-time and it looked like he got his feet tangled up. He knew immediately something was wrong,” Adelman said.

“This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it’s gut-wrenching. Especially someone as special as he is. We’ll find out more tomorrow and move on as a team.

“I’m more concerned about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that. It’s unfortunate and we’re hoping for the best... it sucks, but hoping for the best tomorrow.”