Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (Image via Getty) Nikola Jokic will not play in Denver’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 29. He is listed as out with a left knee bone bruise. This will be his 16th straight missed game. He has not played since late December after hurting his knee against the Miami Heat.Denver has chosen to sit him until the knee is fully ready. There is still no exact return date.
What happened to Nikola Jokic’s knee
Nikola Jokic’s injury came at the end of the first half of that Miami game. A loose play in the paint led to contact, and teammate Spencer Jones stepped on Jokic’s left foot by accident. Jokic’s knee bent back and hyperextended.An MRI showed no ligament tear. That was good news. But it did show a bone bruise, which can take weeks to heal, especially for a player who plays through constant contact near the basket.
Jokic’s Current recovery plan
Denver Nuggets have kept him out for about four weeks. Team doctors plan to check his knee again in the first week of February. If that check goes well, he can slowly increase his on-court work. A realistic return would be sometime in mid or late February, but nothing has been confirmed. This is because the Nuggets are still high in the standings and there is no need to rush him back.
How Denver Nuggets are playing without Nikola Jokic
Without Nikola Jokic, the offense looks different. The ball is in the hands of the guards and wings more often, not the center. Jamal Murray handles more scoring and playmaking. Aaron Gordon takes on extra work inside and on defense. Michael Porter Jr. is asked to score from the outside. Zeke Nnaji helps cover minutes in the frontcourt.Denver Nuggets has gone about 9-6 during this stretch and still sits third in the Western Conference. But close games have been harder to finish. A recent 109-107 loss to the Detroit Pistons showed the gap left by Jokic’s passing and control late in games.
What this means for the Nets game
Denver Nuggets will likely play faster and take more outside shots. They cannot run the offense through the post like usual. Brooklyn will try to attack inside and fight for rebounds. Players like Nic Claxton and Dariq Whitehead could test Denver near the rim.The game plan for Denver is simple and that is to move the ball, shoot well, and avoid slow half-court sets that depend on a dominant center.
Impact on betting and fantasy
Nikola Jokic’s normal numbers are gone for now. His usual near 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists have to be replaced by several players. Murray, Porter Jr., and Gordon should see more shots and touches. Denver can still compete, but their margin for error is smaller without their best player.
When he might return
The next key step is the early February re-evaluation. If the knee handles more work without pain, he can move closer to full practice. The most likely return window is mid to late February. Until then, Denver Nuggets will keep using a team approach instead of relying on one star.Also read: Brooklyn Nets vs Denver Nuggets injury report: Who’s playing, injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (January 29, 2026)Jokic is out for this Nuggets vs Nets game. Denver will rely on guard play, outside shooting, and effort to stay in the game. Watch Murray’s scoring, Gordon’s all-around work, and how Brooklyn tries to score in the paint against a thinner Denver front line.