Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James explained why he embraced Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić during the Lakers' 115-107 road win over the Nuggets on Tuesday.

Adelman described the state of Jokic’s recovery from a knee injury as “kind of up and down” before Denver hosted the Lakers. It was the team’s 12th game without him and 11th without either center. Valanciunas has been sidelined by a right calf strain. Jokic hyperextended his left knee, resulting in a bone bruise.

The Denver Nuggets spent the offseason building a roster that could at least tread water without Nikola Jokic, and their efforts might be about to be put to the test. Jokic exited Monday night's game against the Miami Heat with a knee injury and did not ...