Denver Nuggets superstar and three-time league MVP Nikola Jokić left his team’s 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday after sustaining a non-contact injury to his left knee and did not return.

The team said after the game that Jokić will undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning to diagnose the extent of the injury.

In the closing seconds of the first half, Jokić stepped awkwardly while playing defence underneath the basket and collapsed to the floor in visible pain, grasping at the front of his left knee.

Jokić was helped off the court by trainers and brought to the locker room for evaluation. Shortly into the second half, he was ruled out for the rest of the game.

He finished with 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists in 19 minutes.

If Jokić misses significant time, it would be a devastating blow to the Nuggets, who were already missing starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson due to injury.

Jokić has been the consensus top player in the NBA this decade, finishing either first or second in MVP voting in each of the last five seasons. So far this season, he is averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists while shooting over 60% from the field.

Denver made a point to address the roster’s depth in the offseason, and Jokić has kept the Nuggets afloat in the West standings despite the team’s other injuries, but there is no replacing the seven-time All-Star selection.

“He's not just a big part of what we do, but almost everything that we do," Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said. “We just want to see him healthy and everybody in here is ready to step up.”

Murray finished with 20 points and 11 assists in the loss.

The victorious Heat were led by 25 points from Normal Powell, with eight Miami players scoring in double figures.

 

Allen, Cavs top Wemby, Spurs

Jarrett Allen had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Darius Garland finished with 15 points and 11 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers got a 113-101 road win against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

The Cavs (18-16) have been among the largest disappointments in the NBA so far this season after winning 64 games last season, and Allen has come under fire for his past performances against big men who crash the glass.

Evan Mobley added 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots, bouncing back from Saturday’s four-point performance against the Houston Rockets.

Wembanyama finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, who lost their second straight game after an eight-game winning streak.

 

Raptors rally past Magic

Scottie Barnes hit a pair of clutch free throws, Gradey Dick had 15 points in 15 minutes off the bench, and the Toronto Raptors rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the Orlando Magic 107-106.

Barnes’ free throws with 1:27 remaining were the last points of the game, with Paolo Banchero missing a step-back 3-pointer as time expired.

Orlando held a 51-30 lead midway through the second quarter, but Toronto cut the deficit to 11 by half-time and outscored the Magic 23-12 in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Shead had a team-high 19 points off the bench for the Raptors, who had seven players score in double figures.

Banchero finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss.