Sources: Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (knee) to return vs. Clippers - ESPN

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic plans to return to action on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at home after being sidelined since Dec. 29 with a bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee, sources told ESPN.

Jokic is also set to play in Sunday's showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Denver and be eligible for season awards such as MVP and All-NBA.

The 6-foot-11 star center got hurt in the first half of Denver's loss to the Miami Heat back in December. Prior to that, he was ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring at 29.6 points per game. He also has 16 triple-doubles this season, which leads the NBA.

Jokic is also averaging career highs in APG (11.0) and three-point percentage (43%)

The Nuggets went 10-6 in Jokic's absence over the last month-plus. Those 16 games are the most he's ever missed in any season of his career