The current most valuable player of the season honored his individual distinction by signing one of his best performances. Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets with a very complete game to win against the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime (130-128). In addition, the Serbian assisted Aaron Gordon in a brilliant way so that he scored the final basket.
The 67th triple-double in the Serb’s career was undoubtedly one of the most special. The center had never reached double figures in the three most important statistical sections scoring 40 or more points, so it can be said that it is the best triple-double of his career. However, he missed his record for scoring in a game by a single point.
Jokic scored 37 of his 49 points after the break. He achieved it with an efficient 16 of 25 field goals, 3 of 5 triples and 14 of 16 free throws. Continuing with the statistical lines, we must also highlight that of Aaron Gordon, who despite being overshadowed by his teammate, left the game with 28 points and 4 of 7 in triples, including the victory.
In the Clippers the most outstanding player was Ivica Zubac, who turned the game into a Balkan duel between him and Jokic. They aren’t best friends, but their relationship has deepened since Zubac’s rookie year, when Dejan Milojevic served as their common liaison for their postgame conversations. The Bosnian finished the match with his personal scoring record, 32 points that he accompanied with 10 rebounds.
With this win, the Nuggets currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 23-20 record. What Jokic is doing to keep afloat and in positions of playoffs to the Nuggets in the absence of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. is simply spectacular.
A team delivered to Jokic
At the end of the game, Mike Malone addressed the media and praised his player. “If it’s not the MVP, who’s going to be?” he declared. And it is that the Serbian is one of the candidates to repeat the individual distinction that he achieved last season. So far this season, he has averaged 25.9 points, 13.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists, figures close to those of his glorious year.
His teammates also took the opportunity to praise him, Aaron Gordon was one of them. When asked about the large number of fouls Jokic receives and doesn’t get called, Gordon joked:«I don’t know if the referees feel bad for the players who defend him». And it is that, the superiority of the center is such that at times the match seems truly indefensible.
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