DENVER — The Denver Nuggets finally have some beneficial news on the injury front \u2014 big man Nikola Jokic is back on the court.<\/p>\n
Jokic returned to the starting lineup Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers in his first game since<\/a> suffering a knee injury on Dec. 29. The three-time NBA MVP will be on a minutes restriction, coach David Adelman said, as he eases his way back.<\/p>\n Jokic missed 16 games since limping off the floor just before halftime at Miami. He was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee.<\/p>\n Denver went 10-6 in his absence.<\/p>\n Jokic\u2019s presence is a boost for a Nuggets team that just lost Aaron Gordon for at least a month after the high-flying forward reinjured his right hamstring<\/a>. Christian Braun (left ankle) and Cameron Johnson (right knee) remain sidelined.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to have (Jokic) back, but let\u2019s temper a little bit,\u201d Adelman said before the game. “The guy\u2019s been hurt. He\u2019s been out. Having the best player, in my opinion, alive is a major, major thing to get back. I just want to make sure we temper the idea of what it could be like. He\u2019s got to get out there and feel comfortable again. We all know what it is when he is comfortable. It\u2019s something we\u2019ve never seen.\u201d<\/p>\n The knee injury interrupted one of Jokic\u2019s finest seasons. He’s averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists while shooting a career-best 43.5% from 3-point range. <\/p>\n \u201cIt adds a different dimension to what you want to do defensively, for sure, because of his passing ability, his ability to score,\u201d Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Jokic. “If you switch, he punishes smaller guys. If you\u2019re big, he takes them on the perimeter. Our hands are going to be full.\u201d<\/p>\n