After an extended stint on the sideline due to a hyperextended left knee, star center Nikola Jokic returned for the Denver Nuggets’ 122-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

Jokic played 25 minutes in the game and tallied 31 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists – not bad for a guy who hadn’t played in a game in over a month.

Nikola Jokic expected to play vs. Thunder on Sunday night 

Jokic’s body responded well to his return to game action. He’s listed as probable on the official injury report for Denver’s matchup with the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Jokic is expected to play in the game, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Despite his extended absence, Jokic is still eligible for major NBA awards like MVP, but barely. He can miss just one more game for the rest of the season to remain eligible with the league’s 65-game threshold, though remaining eligible might not be a priority for the three-time MVP. 

After the game against L.A., Jokic said that the knee felt good and wasn’t something he thought about during live action. 

“I was not scared to use [the knee],” Jokic said. “I was not thinking about it while I was running and while I was playing. I think that’s a good sign I’m ready.”

The matchup between the Nuggets and Thunder will represent a rematch from the Western Conference semifinals last season, when the Thunder bested the Nuggets in seven games. 

The meeting between the teams will be the first of of three on the season. They’ll also meet again in February and March. Both of those games will take place in Oklahoma City. 

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