The 25-year-old took a heavy blow to his knee during the Nuggets’ 93-84 loss to the Auckland Tuatara in Dunedin earlier this month.
Initially, the injury did not seem too bad and he was listed to play against the Hawke’s Bay Hawks on Friday night.
But he was forced to pull out late and the Nuggets suffered a 95-94 loss to the Hawks in his absence.
McLaughlin had been in tremendous form. He strung together two career-high games, landing 31 points during the 103-94 win against the Wellington Saints and 39 points in the loss to the Tuatara.
Those efforts helped him collect back-to-back National Basketball League performance of the week awards.
But McLaughlin is just as adept at setting people up as he is at getting to the hoop himself.
He is averaging 7.1 assists per game and runs the Nuggets’ offensive game, so he was a big loss.
Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere said McLaughlin, barring any further setbacks, would return to training today ahead of the derby clash with the Southland Sharks in Invercargill on King’s Birthday.
"The physio’s report was good and he seems to be on the mend", Matehaere said.
Back-up centre Jack Andrew returned to court on Friday. He had missed the past four games with an ankle complaint.
He played only eight minutes, but the Nuggets will be pleased to see him slowly return to full fitness.
