The Denver Nuggets’ reigning back-to-back league MVP Nikola Jokic has entered the league’s health and safety protocols, ruling him out of Wednesday’s game against the New York Knicks.
Jokic, 27, is averaging a career-high 8.9 assists per game to go with his 20.8 points and 9.5 rebounds, helping the Nuggets to a 9-4 record through their first 13 games.
Having won five of their past six games, the Nuggets will be without Jokic and second-year talent Bones Hyland, who is also in health and safety protocols.
They will have to clear the league’s guidelines before being able to return to the floor, with a maximum of 10 days before they are automatically cleared.
The Nuggets head away from home to take on the Dallas Mavericks on both Friday and Sunday, before returning home to face the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.