A dominant performance by reigning Kia MVP Nikola Jokic was cut short by a right knee contusion suffered late in the first half of Wednesday’s road game at Utah.

The Nuggets superstar went down in obvious pain and had to be helped off after knocking knees with Jazz center Rudy Gobert with 1:54 remaining in the second quarter. Jokic tested his knee during warmups for the second half but was unable to return.

Nikola Jokic had 24 points in 15 minutes before leaving Wednesday’s game with a right knee contusion

The Nuggets hung tough without their anchor, leading briefly in the fourth quarter before the Jazz poured it on en route to a 122-110 victory.

He will be examined again, but initial injury report was a knee contusion.

Denver coach Michael Malone doesn’t think it’s too serious.

“I went up to Nikola as he was warming up at halftime. I said, ‘How do you feel?’ He said ‘It feels a little weak’ and I just shut him down. I took the decision (out of his hands). It’s not his decision to make,” Malone said. “He’s far too important to this team for us to risk him being out there if he’s not feeling confident about it.”

Nuggets swingman Monte Morris, when asked about Nikola Jokic after the game, told Mike Singer of The Denver Post: “He said he thinks he’s fine.”

Per Monte Morris on Nikola Jokic: “He said he thinks he’s fine.”

— Mike Singer (@msinger) October 27, 2021

Malone decided to shut him down for second half after Jokic told him his knee felt a little "weak." https://t.co/pSXzomJFop

— Mike Singer (@msinger) October 27, 2021

Jokic completely dominated the Jazz up to that point, amassing 24 points, six rebounds and six assists in just 15 minutes.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.