Nikola Jokic returned to the Nuggets’ lineup Friday after a week away from the team during which he welcomed a newborn son with his wife, Natalija, a source told The Denver Post.
Jokic, 29, didn’t travel with the Nuggets for their recent three-game road trip, staying in Denver to tend to his family while his wife was expecting. They also have a 3-year-old daughter, Ognjena. Jokic was questionable to play until an hour before Denver’s NBA Cup game Friday night, a 123-120 loss to the Mavericks. He did not practice on Thursday.
The three-time MVP told reporters after the game that his family is doing well and did not go into detail.
The Nuggets went 1-2 without him while Dario Saric filled in as the starting center. Aaron Gordon also missed the road trip with a calf strain. Jokic said he watched all three games from home.
“It’s different, of course,” he said. “I think I play most of the games, so it was good, and different. Just different.”
In his return, he amassed 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, bringing him within one triple-double of tying Magic Johnson for third place on the all-time list. The Nuggets visit the Lakers on Saturday on the second end of a back-to-back.
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
Originally Published:
