It took no time at all for Nikola Jokić to come back and look like the best player in basketball.
The three-time MVP returned from a 16-game absence caused by a knee injury and put up 31 points and 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes in the Denver Nuggets’ 122-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Jokić was a force in the fourth quarter in Denver, reentering the game when the Nuggets’ lead had shrunk to 4 with 7:53 remaining. Jokić had 8 points, including a vintage floater off one foot, plus a behind-the-back pass to Peyton Watson, in less than four minutes, helping Denver pull away.
Jokić was his usual efficient self, shooting 8-for-11 from the floor and 13-for-17 from the free-throw line and turning the ball over just once compared with five assists. It was his first game since Dec. 29, when he injured himself in a game in Miami. Coach David Adelman told reporters after the game that Jokić played close to his maximum minutes.
The Nuggets (33-16) went 10-6 in Jokić’s absence. That has allowed them to stay in good position, as they are now percentage points behind the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference. Both teams are five games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Denver’s ability to keep pace has been surprising. All of the Nuggets’ starters, save for Jamal Murray, have missed significant time this season. The team announced Thursday that Aaron Gordon will be reevaluated in four to six weeks, as he is dealing with a hamstring injury. He has played in just 23 games this season, while Cam Johnson and Christian Braun have played in 28 and 14, respectively.
However, the Nuggets got key performances from young players Watson and Jalen Pickett, as well as excellent play from Murray, a likely All-Star, to keep the Nuggets afloat.
“A lot of players stepped up. A lot of big moments, big nights,” Jokić told the Denver broadcast on Altitude Sports after the win. “I was proud of them.”
Now, he is back to carry the load.