The MVP of the 2020-21 course has started the current one in the same way, at the MVP level. Nikola Jokic explained again last night why he won such an award by signing 32 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals, a number that helped the Nuggets beat San Antonio 102-96 and put the 2-0 on their locker.
«He is a really spectacular, interesting and different player. It’s like a 7 foot Larry Bird. He can pass the ball, the way he reads things, it’s incredible, “says Gregg Popovich, who had to suffer it as a rival.
Despite having the Serbian in command, Denver had to row for 48 minutes to beat the Texas team, a team without a shining star, but whose group is strong. Not even at the end of the third quarter, when they were 11 points down (79-68), did they lower their arms. Whenever the locals pressed, they clung to the game. Finally Jokic was too much, and between shouts of MVP from the stands, closed the party.
The center was the undisputed leader of those of Colorado; so much so that three other players reached ten points, and just barely. Monte Morris had 13 points, Will Barton had 12 and JaMychal Green had 12 off the bench.
San Antonio, for its part, had its best man in Keldon Johnson, scoring 27 points. Behind him, Derrick White achieved 16 and both Jakob Poeltl and Dejounte Murray went to 16. Popovic was satisfied, since despite having many errors throughout the match, they competed until the end.
“I’m excited. We had 20 turnovers and shot 25 percent from 3-pointers and still competing. We have to take better care of the ball and make better decisions, “he says.
The truth is that for the Spurs it is not easy to play on the Nuggets court, where they currently have eight consecutive regular season games losing; To be exact, they do not expire from the 2017-18 academic year. This says more good about Denver than bad about San Antonio. Those from Colorado have long been one of the best teams in the NBA. Once again, especially if Jamal Murray recovers for the playoffs, they must be taken into account.
(Photograph by Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images)
