The Denver Nuggets' reigning MVP Nikola Jokic was put on the sidelines for Thursday's game against the Chicago Bulls, and Head Coach Michael Malone has given an update on the status and severity of The Joker's injury. According to Malone, Jokic is suffering from a sore wrist, and has concluded tests—including X-rays, MRIs, and consultations with doctors—to rule out more severe injuries. Despite the relatively simple diagnosis however, Malone decided to bar Jokic from playing in the Nuggets' 108-114 loss to Chicago as a precaution, so as to prevent aggravation or the injury worsening.

According to Mike Singer of The Denver Post:

“Without Jokic, the Bulls punished the Nuggets on the glass. They had 17 offensive rebounds that led directly to 18 points. The rebounding battle – often an indication of effort and strongly correlated to the result – was heavily in Chicago’s favor, 50-38.”

Despite the plethora of tests done on Jokic, there remains to be no timeline set for the big man's return, as Malone wants to ensure that his star center returns at 100%. Yet the hurdles presented by the absence of Jokic are evident, something exploited by the Bulls as they dominated the Nuggets on the glass.

With both centerpieces Jokic and Jamal Murray out for Denver, Nuggets fans can only trust in the rest of the team to fill in—hopefully better than they did in the game against the Bulls. As Jokic's presence will be sorely missed, the questions of when he will be able to return and whether or not there's more to this injury than a sore wrist still hang in the balance.