If you were looking for Nikola Jokic's box score in the Denver Nuggets' win against the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, you might have noticed a glaring, 7-foot-shaped hole in the stat sheet.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird to see a Nuggets game where the "Joker" isn't systematically dismantling a defense with those water-polo-style overhead passes. But that's exactly where we are right now.
Nikola Jokic finished with 0 points in his last game. Wait. Before you think he had some historic shooting slump—he didn’t. He didn't even lace up.
The Reality of Nikola Jokic Points Last Game
Basically, the big man was sidelined for the Nuggets' 121-115 victory over Washington on January 17, 2026. He’s currently dealing with a left knee bone bruise that has kept him out of the rotation for a few games now.
If we’re looking at the last time he actually stepped onto the hardwood, you have to go back to December 29, 2025, against the Miami Heat. That game was a bit of a disaster for Denver fans. Jokic only played 19 minutes before the knee flared up, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He also chipped in 8 assists and 5 rebounds, which, for him, is basically a quiet morning at the office.
It’s frustrating.
You’ve got a guy who was averaging a near-triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game this season. Seeing him stuck in a suit on the bench is like having a Ferrari in the garage while you’re forced to take the bus. Sure, the bus (in this case, Jamal Murray) can get you there, but it’s just not the same ride.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the Stat Line
When people search for Nikola Jokic points last game, they’re usually looking for those "video game" numbers we’ve grown accustomed to. Just a few days before the injury, on Christmas Day, he dropped a monster 56 points on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Fifty-six.
He also had 16 rebounds and 15 assists in that overtime win. When you produce at that level, a 0-point "DNP - Injury" feels like a glitch in the Matrix.
How Denver is Surviving Without the MVP
Most people thought the Nuggets would just fold without their centerpiece. They haven't.
Jamal Murray has been playing like a man possessed. In the Wizards game, Murray went off for 42 points. He took 24 shots, hit 15 of them, and basically willed Denver to their fourth straight win. It’s been a fascinating shift in dynamic. Usually, everything flows through Jokic. Now, the Nuggets are playing a more traditional, guard-heavy style.
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The Supporting Cast Stepping Up
- Peyton Watson: He’s been a revelation, honestly. Scoring 21 against Washington and consistently filling that athletic gap on the wing.
- Tim Hardaway Jr.: He found his stroke recently, putting up a season-high 30 points on Saturday.
- Aaron Gordon: He’s still the glue, but he’s having to do more of the heavy lifting on the glass without the Serbian rebounding machine next to him.
It’s a different kind of basketball. It's faster, more chaotic, and way more dependent on individual shot-making than the beautiful, rhythmic "Joker-ball" we usually see at Ball Arena.
What’s Next for Jokic and Your Fantasy Team?
The big question is: when is he coming back?
The medical staff is calling it a "bone bruise," which is code for "we'll see how he feels when he wakes up." These things are tricky. If you rush back and knock it again, a two-week absence turns into two months.
Denver is currently third in the Western Conference at 29-13. They have a cushion. They can afford to let him sit until that knee is 100%. They face the Charlotte Hornets tonight (Sunday, January 18), and the official injury report still has him listed as Out.
If you're betting or playing fantasy, you have to pivot. The "points last game" for Jokic will likely stay at zero for at least another few days.
Keep an eye on the morning shootaround reports for the upcoming road trip. Until then, enjoy the Jamal Murray show, because he's carrying the heaviest load of his career right now.
Check the official NBA injury report two hours before tip-off for the most accurate status on Jokic's return to the lineup.
Monitor Jamal Murray’s usage rates in betting markets, as his points-over projections remain high as long as Jokic is sidelined.
Watch for Peyton Watson’s rebounding totals; he’s been picking up the slack in the paint during this stretch.