It has been apparent even to the untrained eye that KP has not been himself when on the court for the Celtics since returning from an ankle injury.

The Boston Celtics held off the depleted Denver Nuggets 118-106 on Tuesday night as Nikola Jokic sat out because of an illness.

Nikola Jokic's illness may keep him out of second game against Clippers. Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon out with right calf strain.

Playing without center Nikola Jokic, who was scratched before the game with a non-COVID illness, t Nuggets pushed the Boston Celtics to the limit, but came up short, losing 118-106.

The Celtics withstood a valiant upset bid by the Nuggets without Nikola Jokic to close out their road trip with a 118-106 win in Denver.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic will not play against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night due to a non-COVID illness. It is his fourth missed game this season, after he was away for three games in November for the birth of his son.

"Injury Update: Nikola Jokic (Illness) will be out tonight against the Boston Celtics," the Nuggets announced. Sure enough, Nuggets fans expressed disappointment with the news, especially amid high expectations of an incredible battle between the two powerhouse teams.

DENVER — Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic was sidelined for Denver’s clash with Jayson Tatum and the Celtics on Tuesday night because of an illness. The Nuggets center went from probable to questionable to out over the course of the day. He was seen leaving the arena a little more than an hour before tipoff.

Luckily, LA's window to beat the Nuggets just burst open, as superstar center Nikola Jokic has officially been ruled out for Wednesday's matchup with an illness. Jokic, 29, is averaging 31.5 points, 13.

The Nuggets have experience beating the Los Angeles Clippers without Nikola Jokic. They pulled it off in Los Angeles last season, led by Reggie Jackson’s stirring 35-point, 13-assist performance. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon were also absent from that game,