MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic was shut down Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, the third straight game he has played missed for personal reasons.

The 7 feet, three-time Most Valuable Player leads the Nuggets in points (29.7), rebounds (13.7) and assists (11.7). Denver has lost its last two games — against New Orleans on Friday and Memphis on Sunday – without Jokic.

The Nuggets will play a second game in Memphis before returning to Denver.

Coach Michael Malone was noncommittal about whether Jokic would be available for Friday’s home game against Dallas.

“I have no idea about Friday,” Malone said in his pre-game comments Tuesday. “Obviously there’s no news out of Denver. So when we get home, we’ll look at that again.”

The Nuggets have struggled in Jokic’s absence.

In Sunday’s loss, the Grizzlies outscored the Nuggets, including ten offensive rebounds. Denver committed 15 turnovers and shot 41.7%. Besides Jokic, so is Denver playing without forward Aaron Gordonanother key part of the Nuggets’ offense.

“We shouldn’t play a different way,” Malone said of Jokic’s absence. “Obviously you don’t have a three-time MVP. I think we have to play harder. That would have to be with Nikola or without Nikola. I think we have to play more physically.”

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