Nikola Jokic’s Final Status for Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies

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After falling to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Denver Nuggets are back in action on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies. Friday’s loss to New Orleans was a frustrating one for the Nuggets, because while they were without Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, the Pelicans were without Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and other key players.
Gordon is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks with a right calf strain, but the return timeline for Jokic is more unclear. Unexpectedly listed on the injury report against New Orleans due to personal reasons, Jokic was downgraded from questionable to out that morning.
In a similar development, Jokic was initially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Memphis, but has since been downgraded to out.
Nikola Jokic is OUT again for the Nuggets in Memphis today.
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) November 17, 2024
There has been no official word on what Jokic is dealing with, but a report from Katy Winge of Altitude TV revealed that he and his family are okay.
Via Winge: “Out of respect for Nikola’s wishes, we aren’t going to say anything more about the personal reasons he is missing tonight’s game. I can confirm that he and his family are fine and there is nothing to be alarmed about!”
Out of respect for Nikola’s wishes, we aren’t going to say anything more about the personal reasons he is missing tonight’s game. I can confirm that he and his family are fine and there is nothing to be alarmed about! https://t.co/lwmWd8Vxzh
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) November 15, 2024
This game against Memphis will be a challenge, because while the Grizzlies are also without key players - including Ja Morant, winning any game without Jokic is tough for the Nuggets.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.