The Denver Nuggets’ championship aspirations took a massive hit last night as superstar Nikola Jokic went down with a scary-looking knee injury. The three-time MVP collapsed to the floor late in the second quarter against the Miami Heat, sending a shockwave through the NBA world.

The injury occurred on a non-contact play, as Jokic appeared to hyperextend his left knee while backtracking on defense. He was in visible pain and had to be helped to the locker room, not returning for the second half of the 147-123 loss.

Losing Jokic for any amount of time is a nightmare scenario for Denver. The Serbian big man has been on another MVP tear, averaging a triple-double and carrying a team already hit hard by injuries. Without him, the Nuggets have historically struggled, posting a 13-23 record in the 36 games he’s missed over the past five seasons.

For the bettors and fantasy owners, this is a code-red situation. Jokic was a frontrunner for his fourth MVP award, and the Nuggets were a top contender for the NBA title. Those odds are about to change dramatically as the league holds its breath waiting for the results of his MRI scheduled for today.

Will the Joker’s magic run out, or is this just a temporary setback? The fate of the Nuggets’ season hangs in the balance.