Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (knee) to undergo MRI after exiting vs. Heat

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is set to undergo an MRI on his left knee after exiting the Denver Nuggets' 147-123 road defeat against the Miami Heat on Monday.

Jokic limped off the court in discomfort after injuring his knee in the closing seconds of the first half. The Nuggets initially announced that he was questionable to return, and Jokic did not play the remainder of the game.

"Immediately, he knew something was wrong," Nuggets coach David Adelman said postgame. "This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it's gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is. We'll find out more tomorrow.

"We'll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that."

Teammate Spencer Jones accidentally stepped on Jokic's left foot while being forced backwards by Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. under the Heat's basket. Jokic collapsed to the court and grabbed at his knee in obvious pain.

The contact caused Jokic's left leg to hyperextend and Denver's superstar had to hobble slowly to the locker room under his own power.

Jokic -- who leads the league in rebounds (12.2 per game) and assists (11.0 per game) -- had 21 points, five boards and eight assists in 19 minutes, with 13 of his points coming in the second quarter.

--Field Level Media