HOUSTON -- Injured three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic plans to return "at some point" during the Denver Nuggets' upcoming five-game homestand, coach Michael Malone said Sunday.

"We're just trying to get home and kind of see where he's at," Malone said before Denver beat the Houston Rockets 116-111, the fourth consecutive game Jokic has missed due to left ankle impingement. "It'd be great to have a chance to get our starting five some run together, because we haven't had a lot of opportunity to do that this season."

Malone said he does not expect Jokic, who went through a pregame shooting session Sunday, to play in Monday's home game against the Chicago Bulls.

The Nuggets are 2-2 in the four games Jokic has missed with the ankle injury.

Jokic had been playing heavy minutes despite the ankle problem -- averaging 39.8 minutes in eight March games -- before Denver decided to prioritize his health over fighting for the highest possible playoff seed.

Jokic also suffered a right elbow contusion in a March 10 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which had been listed on the injury report along with the left ankle impingement until Thursday.

Jokic is averaging a triple-double -- including career bests of 29.1 points and 10.3 assists per game -- making him one of two leading MVP candidates along with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.