The Denver Nuggets head into Milwaukee on Friday night for the second game of a back-to-back, and they will do it again without Nikola Jokic. The two-time MVP remains sidelined with a left knee bone bruise, extending an absence that has now reached 13 straight games. Denver has been forced to adapt for nearly a month, yet the defending champions have kept pace in the West, holding a 30-15 record and the No. 3 seed through 45 games.

This matchup with the Bucks at Fiserv Forum arrives with plenty of uncertainty on the Denver side. Several rotation players are listed with injuries or questionable tags, and the team’s health picture won’t be fully clear until closer to tip-off. On the other side, Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo is available and not on the injury report, adding another layer of difficulty to a tricky road back-to-back.

Jokic Injury Update: Timeline, Status, and What’s Next

Jokic injured his left knee on December 29 against the Miami Heat. The diagnosis was a bone bruise, with no ligament damage. The team has targeted a reevaluation around January 30, a date that is now within sight but still not here. For Friday in Milwaukee, the verdict is simple: he remains out.

As the team put it before Thursday’s win in Washington: “Nikola Jokic will not play when the Denver Nuggets face the Washington Wizards on January 22, 2026. The Denver center remains out with a left knee bone bruise, extending his absence to 13 straight games.” Another team update summed up the month-long grind: “The Nuggets have been without its best player for nearly a month and continues to adjust as the regular season moves on. Denver has managed to stay competitive despite the loss.”

That competitiveness shows up in the numbers. Denver is 7-5 without Jokic, a solid mark when you remove a player who is the center of the offense and the heartbeat of the defense. It hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been enough to keep the Nuggets near the top of the West.

“7-5 without Jokic is no fluke — that’s culture and coaching.”

Back-to-Back Test: Fatigue, Focus, and the Road

Back-to-backs are hard. Back-to-backs in Milwaukee, with Giannis waiting, are even harder. Denver handled the Wizards on Thursday, but that win came with a cost: travel, quick turnaround, and less prep time. The Nuggets will need clean possessions, strong rebounding, and limited fouls to keep the Bucks out of the bonus and out of transition.

Expect Denver to lean on structure. The offense will likely emphasize ball movement, screening, and post touches for its bigs. The defense will need five bodies in the paint to build a wall against Giannis. Communication and help-side rotations are key, especially when fatigue sets in during the second half.

Nuggets Depth Steps Up: Valanciunas Returns

One bright spot: Jonas Valanciunas has returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact, posting 16 points and 9 rebounds in his recent outing. His size, screening, and soft touch help settle the offense, and his defensive rebounding can limit second chances — a must against a physical Bucks front line.

With several Nuggets listed as questionable, Denver’s formula is unchanged: next-man-up minutes, steady guard play, and a big body in the middle to absorb contact. The names may shift from night to night, but the roles do not. Everyone will be asked to do a little more.

“This is where champions earn it — on the road, short-handed, tired.”

What Denver Must Win vs. Milwaukee

Without Jokic, the Nuggets thrive when they keep the game simple. Here are the keys on Friday:

• Paint protection: Show bodies at the rim, absorb contact, and avoid cheap fouls.
• Rebounding: One-and-done possessions for Milwaukee; no easy put-backs.
• Turnovers: Value the ball; live-ball mistakes become Giannis dunks.
• Half-court offense: Patient cuts, drive-and-kick threes, and inside-out touches.
• Bench energy: Win the minutes when stars sit; short runs can swing a road game.

If Denver can control tempo and stay even on the glass, it gives itself a shot late — even without its best player.

“If Valanciunas stays on the floor, Denver’s got a real chance.”

Milwaukee Factors: Giannis Is In

The Bucks enter with an MVP-level force available and in rhythm. Giannis’ pressure on the rim can bend any defense, so Denver’s help must be early and strong. The Nuggets cannot give up easy transition scores or second-chance points. Make Milwaukee beat you in the half-court, where set defenses can load up and rotate.

This also puts pressure on Denver’s guards and wings to win the perimeter battle. Strong point-of-attack defense buys time for the bigs and keeps the ball out of the paint. Physicality without fouling will be the theme.

Big Picture: Holding the Line Until Jokic Returns

For Denver, this stretch is about survival and growth. The wins count the same in January as they do in April, and the Nuggets have banked enough to stay near the top of the standings. But the hidden win is the experience. Role players are seeing important minutes, new combinations are tested, and the coaching staff is learning what works without the team’s offensive hub.

The hope is that Jokic’s reevaluation around January 30 brings good news and a path back to the floor. Until then, nights like this one in Milwaukee demand focus, toughness, and trust. Denver will not try to be flashy; it will try to be solid. And that approach has kept the season on track.

What to Watch Tonight

• How Denver starts: Composure early on the road sets the tone.
• Foul trouble for the bigs: Can Valanciunas and the front line stay on the floor?
• Clutch minutes: If it’s close late, who creates shots without Jokic?
• Questionable tags: Which Nuggets are ultimately available after warmups?

There’s no hiding from the challenge. The Bucks are healthy at the top, and the Nuggets are grinding without their star. But Denver has shown it can win different ways. Do the simple things well, lean on depth, and keep the game in striking distance. If the Nuggets do that again, they can turn another tough night into another steady result.

And when Jokic returns, all of these hard-earned reps could make a good team even better.