A generally accepted belief that has been following for the last decade Denver Nuggets, that they are without Nikola Jokić just a mediocre NBA team, proved untrue now that the mile-high team is facing the long-term absence of a three-time MVP for the first time.
Early on Thursday morning, the Nuggets beat Dallas on the road with a score of 118:109 and thus recorded their third consecutive and also the most convincing victory since Jokic was out of the field.
The conclusion that emerges from the last nine games, during which coach David Adelman does not have the best basketball player in the league at his disposal, and from which Denver drew a positive score of 6:3, is that the Nuggets can actually do it on their own.
Watson as ringleader
As former Denver wing Carmelo Anthony said, this month will be "an opportunity to see what everyone else is going to do and how they're going to come out on top."
During this critical month for Denver, depending on the situation, several different players came to the fore, with which the Nuggets showed that they can play polycentric basketball in the long run.
Most often, it was Peyton Watson, who earned the "player of the week" recognition with his great games, above all his solidity in defense.
photo: APWatson guards Washington.
He was followed by the team's other star Jamal Murray with several 30+ games, Aaron Gordon with some important points in critical moments, as well as Tim Hardaway and Jaylen Pickett who supplemented them from time to time.
photo: APJamal Marie
The fact that Denver had at least five players with double-digit performance in every victory, as well as the fact that it turned every uncertain meeting in its favor, can be an encouragement for Adelman before the return of the best player of the NBA this decade.
What about Jokic?
Nikola Jokić has been watching his team's games from the bench for the third week, since towards the end of 2025 he injured his left knee when he was accidentally stepped on by his own teammate during a duel with an opponent. Doctors diagnosed hyperextension of the knee and predicted a minimum of four to five weeks of recovery.
However, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, Jokic has been training with the team these days and is expected to be on the court at the end of January, which would be in line with the most optimistic estimates.
It is certain that Jokić will be out of the field for the next few games as well, but even though he is not in the game, he makes his contribution by taking the lead during the time-out and practically stealing work from Adelman near the touchline.
MVP race
The initial predictions of the doctors that Denver will only get the first center back in early February, would mean that Jokić will not fulfill the quota of 65 games played, which is a requirement for the title of MVP.
But, if the insider's information turns out to be correct and Jokic returns to the field before the end of January, the chance to remain in the race for the MVP award still exists.
As things currently stand, it is Jokić who is the main favorite for this recognition, with a triple-double performance on average. He is followed by last year's MVP Shai Gilges-Alexander from Oklahoma, Jaylen Brown from the Celtics and Luka Doncic who records a colossal 33 points per game.
Ring priority
However, as Jokic himself often points out, the focus will be on Denver's campaign for a new ring, which would be his second in his career.
Although the Colorado team has been without key players for some time, it currently sits in a lofty second position in the Western Conference, just above defending champion Oklahoma.
In the next two matches, Jokić's teammates will have the opportunity to further strengthen their position, as the Wizards and Charlotte will be visiting them, after which they will have a difficult match with the Lakers.
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