Denver Nuggets reserve center Jonas Valanciunas will be reevaluated in four weeks after sustaining a right calf strain in Wednesday’s 106-103 road win over the Toronto Raptors, the team announced Thursday.
Nuggets Are Down Another Big Man
Valanciunas limped off the court with 4:03 left in the third quarter against the Raptors. He finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 23 minutes against his former team.
“They said it’s a calf strain. I don’t know how serious it is,” head coach David Adelman said postgame. “We’re getting used to this. It seems every night someone has something. The cool thing about it is there is somebody else to get an opportunity from it, and that’s how we have to look at it…
“Hopefully Jonas heals up correctly, hopefully it’s not serious, just like I said the other 19 times this month.”
Injury Update: Jonas Valančiūnas suffered a Right Calf Strain during last night’s game at the Toronto Raptors. Jonas will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/65xfAF7VFI
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 2, 2026
The Lithuanian big man was making his first start of the season in place of superstar Nikola Jokic, who is also out at least four weeks after hyperextending his left knee in Monday’s loss to the Miami Heat.
Jokic is set to be reevaluated in four weeks. The three-time NBA MVP could be sidelined for at least 16 games but could potentially return before February’s All-Star Game.
Denver Traded For Jonas Valanciunas
Denver acquired Valanciunas over the summer in an offseason trade with the Sacramento Kings. The Nuggets are the former first-rounder’s sixth team across his 14-year NBA career.
Through 33 games (one start) this season, Valanciunas is averaging 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 13.3 minutes per contest while shooting a career-best 59.3% from the field and 77% from the foul line.
In Denver’s 135-112 home win over the Utah Jazz on Dec. 22, he finished with 12 points, a season-high 11 rebounds, and one assist in 16 minutes off the bench.
The Nuggets are also without starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), and Cam Johnson (knee). Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji, and DaRon Holmes II could receive more frontcourt minutes amid injuries.
Denver visits the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
