Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone reveals Nikola Jokic is close to returning

In a recent interview, Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone revealed that the team's core center Nikola Jokic is expected to return to the team during the upcoming five-game homestand.

Jokic was absent earlier due to left ankle compression syndrome. He has missed four consecutive games. Although the Denver Nuggets have been closely monitoring Jokic's recovery, Malone confirmed that Jokic will not return in the first game of the five-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls for safety reasons.

Malone mentioned Jokic in the interview and said: "He will return during the Denver Nuggets' five-game home run. We hope to see him return at some point during this period. Of course, he won't play today, and I don't think he will play tomorrow. Our focus now is to return to the home court, see his specific situation, and then make a decision."

In the absence of Jokic, the Denver Nuggets have a record of 2 wins and 2 losses, and their performance is not stable, which is enough to prove the importance of Jokic to the Denver Nuggets.

According to the schedule, the Denver Nuggets will have five consecutive games at home, against the Chicago Red Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.

Although Malone did not give a specific time for Jokic's return, he made it clear that the team's goal is to welcome Jokic back in one of these five home games. Considering that the team is currently in a critical stage of sprinting for the playoffs, they hope to give Jokic enough recovery time to ensure that he can return to the court in the best condition.