Honestly, watching Nikola Jokic play basketball feels like a cheat code that the rest of the NBA hasn't figured out how to patch yet. We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, and even with a recent knee scare that’s kept him sidelined for the last couple of weeks, his impact on the floor remains the single most dominant force in the Western Conference.
If you’ve been tracking the Nikola Jokic last 10 games, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Before he went down with that left knee hyperextension against the Miami Heat on December 29, the guy was putting up numbers that would make a video game developer blush.
We aren’t just talking about "good for a center" stats. We’re talking about a guy leading the league in rebounds (12.2) and assists (11.0) while casually dropping nearly 30 points a night. It’s absurd. Basically, the Denver Nuggets are a championship contender when he’s on the floor and a high-level "scrappy" team when he’s not.
Breaking Down the Nikola Jokic Last 10 Games Performance
Let’s get into the weeds of those final 10 appearances before the injury. Jokic was averaging a cool 30.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and nearly 11 assists. You’ve got to realize how rare that is. Most players hope to have one triple-double a month; Jokic treats them like a morning coffee.
The standout performance—the one everyone is still buzzing about—was that Christmas Day massacre against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 43 minutes and dropped 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists. Read those numbers again. That isn't a typo. He was living at the free-throw line, going 22-of-23. Minnesota’s frontcourt is basically a collection of giants, and he made them look like they were playing in slow motion.
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But it wasn’t all just the "Big Honey" show. Denver went 6-4 in that stretch, showing some vulnerability when the defense didn't rotate quite right. They had a rough one against Houston on December 20 where Jokic "only" had 25 points and 5 assists, and the Nuggets looked lost. That’s the thing about Denver; they’re built so specifically around his gravity that when he isn't hyper-efficient, the whole machine starts to creak.
The Shooting Splits Are Just Stupid
Efficiency is usually where high-volume scorers fall off. Not this guy. In his last few outings, he was shooting over 56% from the field. He’s even found his touch from deep again, hitting 4-of-6 against Minnesota and 5-of-10 against Dallas on December 23. When a 7-footer is hitting step-back threes and then immediately throwing a 60-foot touchdown pass the next play, what are you supposed to do?
- He commands a double team every time he touches the paint.
- If you double, he finds the open shooter (usually Jamal Murray or MPJ) in about 0.2 seconds.
- If you don't double, he uses that soft touch to flip in a floater or a hook shot.
The Knee Injury and What It Means for the MVP Race
The vibe in Denver shifted on December 29. Late in the second quarter against Miami, Jokic went down holding that left knee. The replay looked nasty—a clear hyperextension. He limped off with 21 points and 8 assists in just 19 minutes of play. Since then? Crickets. Or rather, a whole lot of Jamal Murray carrying the load.
Shams Charania recently reported that it’s a bone bruise and that Jokic is already back to on-court workouts. That’s massive news. People were worried he’d miss the rest of the season, but he’s making "rapid progress." The Nuggets have actually held it together pretty well, going 5-3 without him to stay at 28-13, but they need their engine back.
There is a catch, though. To win the MVP in 2026, you’ve got to hit that 65-game threshold. Jokic has played 32 games so far. If he returns by the end of January like the rumors suggest, he’ll have about 35 games left on the schedule. He basically has to play almost every single game for the rest of the year to stay eligible. It’s going to be tight. Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are breathing down his neck, and they haven't missed the time he has.
Comparing the Impact
| Category | Jokic (Last 10 Played) | Season Average |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 30.5 | 29.6 |
| Rebounds | 11.6 | 12.2 |
| Assists | 10.9 | 11.0 |
| Turnovers | 3.7 | 3.5 |
The turnovers were up a bit in that last stretch—6 against Orlando, 5 against Minnesota—but that’s mostly because the Nuggets were leaning on him for every single possession. When you’re the primary playmaker, the rebounder, and the closer, you're going to cough it up occasionally. Honestly, 3.7 turnovers for a guy who touches the ball more than some point guards is still incredibly low.
What Most People Get Wrong About Jokic’s Defense
There's this tired narrative that Jokic is a liability on defense. It's just not true anymore. Look at the Utah game on December 22—he had 3 blocks and 2 steals. He’s never going to be prime Dwight Howard jumping out of the gym, but his hands are incredibly active. He averages 1.4 steals per game because he knows where the ball is going before the passer does. He uses his chest to wall off the rim, and while he gets beat by elite speed, his positioning is top-tier.
Denver’s defensive rating with him on the floor is significantly better than when Jonas Valanciunas or Zeke Nnaji are out there trying to anchor the middle. It's about intelligence over raw athleticism.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're a Nuggets fan or a fantasy manager, here is how you should be looking at the next few weeks:
- Watch the Return Date: The game against the Lakers on January 20 is the big one. If he suits up then, he's ahead of schedule. If they hold him out until February, the MVP dream is likely dead due to the 65-game rule.
- The Jamal Murray Factor: Murray has been playing out of his mind lately (33 points against Dallas). When Jokic returns, expect Murray’s scoring to dip slightly but his efficiency to skyrocket as those wide-open looks return.
- Monitor the Minutes: When he first comes back, don't expect 40 minutes. The Nuggets are cautious. They want him healthy for May and June, not necessarily for a random Tuesday in January.
The Nikola Jokic last 10 games proved that he is still the most valuable individual player in basketball. Whether the hardware follows him this year depends entirely on how that left knee holds up over the final stretch. Keep an eye on the official injury reports over the next 48 hours; the landscape of the Western Conference is about to change again.