Nikola Jokić marked his return from injury in emphatic fashion on Friday night, recording 31 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The three-time NBA Most Valuable Player had been sidelined for 16 games after suffering a bone bruise to his left knee in late December. Making his first appearance since December 29, Jokić showed no signs of rust, delivering a dominant performance in limited minutes.

The Serbian center led all scorers while shooting an efficient eight-of-11 from the field. He also added five assists and three steals in just over 24 minutes of action as Denver snapped the Clippers’ three-game winning streak.

“I feel good out there,” Jokić said after the game. “I did a really good job with my recovery and preparation.”

His return provided a timely boost for Denver, who are currently dealing with multiple injuries, including absences to Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson.

Nuggets head coach David Adelman welcomed having his star back, even under a minutes restriction. While Adelman had urged caution before tip-off, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged the impact of Jokić’s presence.

“He adds a different dimension to what you want to do defensively,” Lue said.

James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points and nine assists. Despite the loss, the Clippers remain in strong form, having won 16 of their previous 19 games before Friday’s defeat.

Dončić Dominates in Lakers Win

In Washington, Luka Dončić produced a sensational performance to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-111 win over the Wizards.

Dončić completed a triple-double before halftime and finished with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists — his sixth triple-double of the season. He had already amassed 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in under 19 minutes as the Lakers surged to a commanding 77-48 halftime lead.

“I just played my game and took what the defense gave me,” Dončić said. “It’s like chess — reading the defense and sharing the ball.”

Deandre Ayton added 28 points and LeBron James contributed 20 as the Lakers shot over 61 percent from the field.

Celtics, Knicks, and Suns Also Shine

In Boston, the Celtics brushed aside the Sacramento Kings 112-93 despite missing Jaylen Brown with knee and hamstring issues. Payton Pritchard led the way with 29 points, including 22 in the first half, along with eight assists. Six Boston players reached double figures as the Celtics rebounded from a heavy loss to Atlanta.

The New York Knicks kept pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a dominant 127-97 home victory over Portland. Jalen Brunson led the way with 26 points as New York extended its winning streak to five games.

Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Dillon Brooks scored 27 points to guide the Suns to a 126-113 win over Cleveland, ending the Cavaliers’ five-game run.