The Nuggets without Nikola Jokic? It’s like a masterpiece missing its central figure. And for four games, the Denver Nuggets has felt that void, a stark reminder of Jokic’s irreplaceable presence. Now, as the playoffs loom, Michael Malone’s latest update brings a surge of relief: Jokic is returning. But can his return reignite a team that’s been struggling to find its rhythm, and can he return in time to secure the best possible playoff seeding?

After Denver’s gritty 116-111 win over the Rockets on Sunday—another game without Jokic—Malone didn’t keep fans guessing. “He’s going to play in Denver, the five-game homestand. He’ll play at some point, hopefully in that five-game homestand. Obviously, he’s not playing today. I don’t think he’ll play tomorrow. We’re just trying to get home and kind of see where he’s at.”

Jokic is definitely out for Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls but after that? It’s game on. Wednesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks is the earliest return date, but if he needs a little more time, Friday against Utah or next week’s back-to-back against Minnesota and San Antonio could be more realistic. Either way, the important thing is that Jokic is close.

The Nuggets have gone 2-2 without him, which isn’t terrible, but let’s not kid ourselves—this team isn’t the same without its MVP. Sunday’s win over Houston helped, sure, but it didn’t erase that ugly 128-109 loss to Portland, a game where Denver’s offense just couldn’t get anything going without Jokic running the show.

The good news? The Nuggets are still in a solid spot—45-27, holding onto the No. 3 seed in the West. But with only a single game separating them from the No. 2 Rockets and No. 4 Lakers, every game matters down the stretch.

And it’s not just about wins and losses. Jokic is the engine that makes this team go. Without him, Jamal Murray has had to take on a massive offensive burden, the team’s ball movement has been clunky, and defensively, they just haven’t had the same stability. All that said and done, Jokic has been playing through injuries for a while now.

Why Nikola Jokic’s rest might be a blessing in disguise

Remember that game against Boston on March 2, when he was visibly limping? He literally laughed it off afterward: “Yeah, I’ve limped basically the past 14 years.” That’s just who he is. If it were up to Jokic, he’d be out there every night, no matter how banged up he is. Earlier this month, when Malone suggested he take a game off to heal his ankle and elbow injuries, Jokic had one response: “Hell no.”

And while that mentality is part of what makes him so great, it also means the Nuggets have to protect him from himself. Before missing these last four games, he was logging nearly 40 minutes a night. That’s a ridiculous workload for anyone, let alone a 7-footer with nagging injuries. So yeah, sitting him might’ve cost Denver a few wins, but in the grand scheme of things? It might be the best thing that could’ve happened.

Even with this brief time off, Jokic is still right in the thick of the MVP race. He’s averaging a ridiculous 29.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game, making him one of the frontrunners alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But let’s be honest—another MVP trophy would be cool, but what about the ultimate goal? That’s back-to-back championships. The Nuggets need Jokic at 100% for the playoffs, and if that means sacrificing a few regular-season wins to make sure he’s fully healthy, so be it.

Jokic’s absence has been frustrating, no doubt, but the Nuggets are almost through it. Malone’s update makes it clear—he’ll be back soon. And once that happens? Denver gets the boost it needs to close out the season strong and start gearing up for another deep playoff run.

So yeah, these last few games without him haven’t been fun. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel—and it looks a lot like Nikola Jokic running the Nuggets’ offense again.