The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić will miss a game for just the second time this season.
Due to severe back stiffness, the All-NBA center will not play for the Nuggets on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the organization stated.
Due to back pain, Jokić missed his lone other game of the season on November 27. Without him, Denver defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 113-104 away.
With a half-game separating the two teams in the Northwest Division, Wednesday’s game is crucial. The Thunder (32-15) need a victory to close the gap with the division-leading Minnesota Timberwolves (33-14), who are less than a game ahead of the Nuggets (33-15).
Denver will miss Jokić’s 26.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, and nine assists per game if he is not on the court. In the NBA, the last two averages are ranked third and fourth, respectively.
