Nikola Jokić’s knee injury in December may have spoiled his MVP plans, but it didn’t change the fact that his Denver Nuggets are NBA Finals contenders. Jokić is expected to be out for a month or so, which means Denver just needs to stay afloat in January and then get back on the Joker express

NEW YORK — When the Denver Nuggets lost Nikola Jokić to a hyperextended knee on Dec. 29, they felt the collective loss of this year’s NBA MVP frontrunner and arguably the best basketball player in the world. But the Nuggets aren’t running from the challenge of what’s behind them this season and what’s still to come — they are embracing it.

Denver star Nikola Jokić will be out of the lineup at least a month after suffering a left knee injury against Miami on Monday night. Per the team, Jokić suffered a hyperextended left knee and will be out at least four weeks.

Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks after sustaining a right calf strain in Wednesday’s win in Toronto, sources tell ESPN. Another injury blow for third-seeded Denver, which is down 4 of 5 starters, including Nikola Jokic and now his backup. pic.twitter.com/QAfTGOFgk0

The Nuggets closed out a taxing seven-game road trip Wednesday night at TD Garden. They were tired, banged up and missing arguably the best player in the NBA. But that depleted Denver group had enough juice to take down the red-hot Celtics,