Nikola Jokic diagnosed with left hip flexor strain

DENVER — An MRI Friday revealed Nikola Jokic suffered a left hip flexor strain when he fell awkwardly late in the fourth quarter in the Nuggets’ 127-120 win over the Phoenix Suns, the team announced. X-rays on Jokic’s hip following the game were negative and Jokic is listed as day-to-day moving forward.

Jokic, along with Emmanuel Mudiay who has missed the Nuggets’ last three games with low back pain, won’t travel with the team to Phoenix and both will remain in Denver to get treatment. Jokic scored 29 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out eight assists before he suffered the injury with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s win.

Mike Miller, Jusuf Nurkic, General Manager Tim Connelly, various front office staff and Jokic’s family hovered around the X-ray room in the bowels of Pepsi Center until Jokic finally emerged. The 21-year-old made his way down the hallway towards Denver’s locker room under his own power but with a noticeable limp.

Here’s video of the injury:

“It’s mixed emotions in the locker room,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Nikola is truly beloved by all of his teammates. He has no ego, he’s a young kid, he likes to have fun, he’s a little bit goofy, and the guys love him for that. For all the success that he’s having he’s still the same kid, and that’s why everybody cares about him and respects him.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t anything serious,” said Darrell Arthur. “He’s probably going to sit a couple of games so we can get him back. We’re definitely going to miss him out there.”

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.