JOKIC MISSES FRIDAY’S GAME WITH INJURY TO LEFT WRIST

The writing on the wall showed itself Thursday. Nikola Jokic would not be able to play Friday night because of a left wrist sprain. It’s an injury that the team doesn’t fully know the extent of while swelling is subsiding, but hopes doesn’t put the promising big man out for a long period of time.

“Right now they are listing it as a day-to-day injury, as the swelling goes out of it,” coach Michael Malone said. “(Thursday) he came in and couldn’t move it. Same thing for (Friday). So we’ll see how it looks going forward. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not a long-term injury. Because he is a big part of what we’re trying to do and who we’re trying to be.”

Jokic has already had a rollercoaster season, and it’s barely getting to the quarter pole. He entered training camp as the projected starter at center. He was displaced there by Jusuf Nurkic, who played his way into the starting center spot, and was moved to starting power forward.

After a few sluggish performances, Jokic was moved to the bench in favor of Kenneth Faried. But that’s where things began turning around. Jokic gradually played better in a reserve role, and back at center, where he turned heads last season as a rookie.

In the two games leading up to Friday night’s game against Houston, Jokic recorded back-to-back double-doubles and averaged 15.0 points on 52.6 percent shooting, 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Moreover, the Nuggets were getting comfortable running offense through Jokic again, and he was making plays.

“Anytime you lose a player like Nikola Jokic, it’s a big loss,” Malone said. “We play through him a lot. His last two games he’s got back-to-back doubledoubles, and not many guys can duplicate what he brings to the