Nuggets star Nikola Jokić is having another stellar season, averaging 31.5 points, 13 rebounds and 9.7 assists.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić was sidelined for Denver’s 118-106 loss to the Boston Celtics because of an illness.
Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and Jrue Holiday added 19 points as Boston used a late 15-0 run to power past Denver. Denver fell to 0-16 when scoring 116 points or fewer and is 1-3 this season when playing without their star center.
Jokić went from probable to questionable to out over the course of the day. He was seen leaving the arena a little more than an hour before tipoff.
“He wasn’t feeling great yesterday, and that has only gotten worse today, which is unfortunate,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said before the game.
Jokić is coming off a stretch in which he averaged 36.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 11.3 assists to earn Western Conference Player of the Week honors. It was the 16th time in his career he won the award, the most in franchise history.
Malone said it’s difficult to insert another player in Jokić’s place because, “we don’t have another guy averaging 32, 13 and 10,” he said, alluding to Jokić’s points (31.5), rebounds (13) and assist (9.7) totals this season.
“We have to play how we play,” Malone added before a game on national television. “We know that they (Celtics) are elite on both ends of the floor and whoever is available to play … just go out there and find a way, not an excuse.”
It was setting up to be quite a showdown between the last two NBA champions. In addition, this was a matchup between the reigning NBA players of the week. Celtics star Jayson Tatum earned the Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 25 points and eight rebounds.
The Nuggets were even more short-handed, with forward Aaron Gordon already sidelined by a strained right calf.
Jokić sat out three games in November as he and his wife welcomed another baby.
“He’s such a guy that brings a clear identity,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Jokić. “It’s a different frequency.”
Boston was without guard Derrick White because of an illness. He’s averaging 17.1 points this season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
