DENVER — Nikola Jokic returned on Friday night, and nobody in NBA history has ever done what he did in the 122-109 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jokic finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals in just 25 minutes, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and 13-of-17 from the free throw line. It was his first action since suffering a bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee at Miami on Dec. 29.
He became the first player in NBA history to score 30 points, snag 10 rebounds and toss five helpers in 25 minutes or less of action.
“I feel good out there,” Jokic said. “I think I did a really good job with the recovery, really good to prepare myself.”
The three-time MVP showed no hesitation in testing the knee that had sidelined him for 16 games.
“I was not scared to use it,” Jokic said. “I was not thinking about it while I was running, while I was playing. So, I think that’s a good sign that I’m ready.”
Nikola Jokic on the decision to come back, why it was now. It wasn’t about awards. His thoughts on the coaching staff, Watson, Murray and more stepping up. He also shared his nervousness through his injury and why he faith his injury wouldn’t be too serve. pic.twitter.com/8SOHLacGjf
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) January 31, 2026
Jokic scored 11 points over a 3:47 stretch in the fourth quarter, extending Denver’s lead from five to 16 and putting away a Clippers team that was the hottest in the NBA, having won 16 of its previous 19 games.
The Nuggets improved to 33-16 and 23-10 when Big Honey plays. They’re tied with the Spurs for second in the West.
Jamal Murray added 20 points and a team-high nine assists on 4-of-5 shooting from deep while being a game-best plus-25. Peyton Watson contributed 21 as four Nuggets reached 20 points, including Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 22 off the bench. The veteran shooter twisted his ankle late and the Nuggets will monitor yet another injury, though his spirits were high.
Jokic’s return lifted everyone’s spirits. For Murray, it didn’t make his life easier yet, as the Clippers tried to beat him down but he did a great job of getting rid of the rock and letting Joker do his thing.
“He’s just a constant in every category, every stat,” Murray said. “He’s going to have his own pace. He wanted me to keep playing my game and stay aggressive. But it’s a different feel when he’s out there.”
Head coach David Adelman, who managed Jokic’s minutes alongside fellow center Jonas Valanciunas, couldn’t help but marvel at what his star does for the offense.
“The impact of his passing, the split game — it just makes the court feel so big,” Adelman said. “Everybody was excited because they knew they were going to get the ball in a scoring area.”
The recovery process was unfamiliar territory for Jokic, who had never missed more than a handful of games in any previous season.
“It was a new thing for me. I was getting nervous because I didn’t know the steps. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, what I was supposed to feel. So it was a different kind of nervous,” Jokic said. “You miss playing. You miss the pressure. You miss the adrenaline, just being out there with the guys and trying to win a game. It’s a collective that I missed.”
Still, watching his teammates from the bench drained him more than playing ever could. Even though they went a remarkable 10-6.
“I was yelling at the TV,” Jokic said. “I was so emotionally empty after the games. I’m happy for the guys. I think everybody doubted them — ‘Jamal can’t do this, Peyton is not that kind of player’ — everybody stepped up and showed they can play.”
Watson, who emerged as a go-to option during Jokic’s absence, said the Serbian star’s return immediately altered the defensive calculus.
“He’s the most unselfish superstar in all of basketball,” Watson said as Jokic walked past him in the locker room.
Watson then joked, “He ain’t that great — but that’s my man.”
The Nuggets continue to play without Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle) and Cameron Johnson (knee). Adelman said he expects everyone except Gordon to return before the All-Star break. Gordon will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks after reinjuring his right hamstring.
James Harden led the Clippers with 25 points and nine assists.
What’s next for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets?
Denver finishes a four-game homestand on Sunday with its first matchup of the season against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Also on that day, the NBA will announce reserves for the All-Star Team, where Jamal Murray is expected to get the honor for the first time in his storied career.
Watson isn’t hiding his anticipation for Murray.
“I’m anxious about it,” Watson said. “I know that he’s not. He knows that he can only control so much. But I do really want that for him. He truly deserves it. He should be an All-Star.”
If Murray gets the nod, he’ll join Jokic at the game in Los Angeles next month.
“Since the season started, I think he is playing on a really high level,” Jokic said about Murray’s chances. “He showed that he can dominate the floor in any possible way… he was giving us that calmness and stability.”
As for the big matchup on Sunday, Murray didn’t give it much acknowledgment.
“It’s another game, you guys circle it,” he said to the media.
