Jokić Hyperextended Knee Update: Nuggets Star Out 4 Weeks After Dec 29 Game
About the People Mentioned
Perplexity
**Perplexity AI** is an American software company founded in August 2022 by engineers Aravind Srinivas (CEO), Denis Yarats (CTO), Johnny Ho (Chief Strategy Officer), and Andy Konwinski, specializing in an AI-powered web search engine that delivers synthesized responses with real-time citations from internet sources.[1][2][3] The founders drew from experiences at OpenAI, Meta, Quora, and Databricks to address limitations in traditional search and early AI chatbots like ChatGPT, which often lacked verifiable sources.[1][2][3] Perplexity launched its flagship conversational "answer engine" on December 7, 2022, initially as a free public beta using OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and Microsoft Bing, later incorporating proprietary models based on Mistral-7B and LLaMA-2.[1][2][4] It pivoted from an earlier tool, Bird SQL, after Twitter's API changes in February 2023, focusing on direct answers over links.[1][2] Key achievements include rapid growth: 2 million monthly active users by March 2023, 10 million by January 2024, and 780 million queries processed monthly by 2025.[1][2][5] Funding milestones propelled valuations from $1 billion in April 2024 (after $165 million raised) to $14 billion in June 2025 ($500 million round), reaching $20 billion by September 2025.[3] Backed by investors like Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Shopify's Tobi Lutke, it introduced mobile apps, a Pro subscription, Chrome extension, and a publishers' revenue-sharing program in July 2024.[1][3][4] Recent events underscore ambition: In January 2025, Perplexity proposed merging with TikTok's U.S. operations ahead of a ban; in August 2025, it bid $34.5 billion for Google Chrome to address antitrust issues.[3] Today, Perplexity remains a leading AI search disruptor, blending LLMs like GPT-4, Claude, and Mistral for personalized, ad-free research, challenging Google with over 10 million users and unicorn status in under two years.[2][3][4][5] (Word count: 298)
About the Organizations Mentioned
Denver Nuggets
## Organization and Purpose The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado, competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Western Conference’s Northwest Division[2]. As a major-league sports franchise, the Nuggets are a significant local business, generating revenue through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and merchandise. The organization plays its home games at Ball Arena, shared with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth, highlighting Denver’s status as a multi-sport city[2]. ## Historical Overview Founded in 1967 as the Denver Larks, the team quickly became the Denver Rockets—a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association (ABA)—before adopting the Nuggets moniker in 1974 to avoid confusion with the NBA’s Houston Rockets[1][2]. The name “Nuggets” pays homage to Colorado’s mining heritage[4]. The Nuggets were a dominant force in the ABA, reaching the finals in 1976, but fell short of a championship[1][2]. In 1976, the team was one of four ABA franchises to join the NBA through the ABA–NBA merger, immediately becoming the most successful of the merger teams by winning a division title in their first NBA season[1]. ## Key Achievements The Nuggets enjoyed playoff streaks in the 1980s and again from 2004 to 2013, though often exiting early in the postseason[2][3]. A major turning point came in the 2003–04 season with the arrival of Carmelo Anthony, sparking a decade of playoff appearances[3][4]. The franchise’s modern era has been defined by the drafting of Nikola Jokić in 2014 and the hiring of coach Michael Malone in 2015, culminating in a historic 2022–23 season where the Nuggets finished atop the Western Conference,
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Established in 1988 as an expansion team alongside the Charlotte Hornets, the Heat have evolved into a formidable force in the NBA. ## History and Achievements Early struggles marked the Heat's initial years, but the team gained momentum in the mid-1990s under the leadership of Pat Riley. Trades for Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway propelled the team into playoff contention, securing four consecutive division titles from 1996 to 2000. The Heat achieved their first NBA championship in 2006, led by Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. This success was followed by a period of rebuilding before the formation of the "Big Three" with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010. This lineup led the Heat to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, as well as a record 27-game winning streak during the 2012-2013 season[1][2][3]. ## Current Status Currently, the Heat plays its home games at the Kaseya Center, having moved from the American Airlines Arena in 2021. The team is owned by Micky Arison, who has been at the helm since its inception. After the departure of the "Big Three," the Heat has focused on rebuilding and developing young talent while maintaining a competitive edge in the league[4]. ## Notable Aspects - **Championships**: The Heat has won three NBA championships (2006, 2012, 2013) and holds seven Conference titles[4]. - **Venue History**: The team has played in several arenas, including the Miami Arena, American Airlines Arena, and now the Kaseya Center[4]. - **Player Talent**: Notable players include Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh
