Coming off his big game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was downgraded on the injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to the official NBA injury report, Jokic is dealing with a left wrist sprain. The Nuggets initially listed him as questionable when they revealed his status on Friday night.
### Nuggets Reveal Nikola Jokic’s Playing Status vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Although the Nuggets left the door open for a potential night off for Jokic, the veteran center has been officially cleared for action.
When the Nuggets hit the road for a trip that began in Sacramento on November 11, Jokic started the stretch strong with a 35-point, 15-rebound double-double. The Nuggets secured a 122-108 victory over the Kings.
In the following game against the LA Clippers, Jokic logged 33 minutes and once again contributed to a double-double. He scored a season-high 55 points on an impressive 78 percent shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds. The Nuggets won 130-116, extending their winning streak to six games.
The Nuggets are currently on the hunt to become the third team to notch 10 wins in the NBA this season. Their biggest threat at the moment, the Oklahoma City Thunder, holds a 12-1 record, placing them atop the Western Conference.
On the other side of the league, the Detroit Pistons improved to 11-2 after extending their winning streak to nine games with a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
### Jokic Continues MVP-Level Performance
For the Nuggets, Jokic is once again looking like a potential frontrunner for the league’s MVP award. He has won the honor three out of the last five seasons and finished second in the two years he didn’t.
Last year, Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game. This season, he is putting up 28.8 points per game while shooting 68 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. Additionally, he is pulling down a career-high 13.1 rebounds per game and producing a career-best 10.9 assists per game.
Jokic will get a chance to continue building on another MVP-caliber campaign on Saturday night against Minnesota.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/nuggets-make-final-nikola-jokic-decision-timberwolves-11054310