Nikola Jokic produced yet another titanic match on Sunday. Faced with New Orleans, one of the most dangerous teams of the moment, the Serbian pivot of the Denver Nuggets had to pull out all the stops to snatch the extension and come out unscathed (138-130). In the end, thirty points compiled in the fourth quarter and overtime and a personal addition to 46 by missing only six shots (out of 22), 12 rebounds and 11 assists in 43 minutes, not to mention 4 blocks and 3 interceptions.
Mammoth stats, MVP especially because they are accompanied by equalizing free throws 3.3 seconds from the end of regulation time (124-124), two baskets and an assist during the 12-0 which executed the Pelicans in the last three minutes of overtime.
« When he takes matters into his own hands, it’s a show on its own “, noted his teammate Aaron Gordon (28 points), lieutenant of Jokic with the leader Monte Morris (18 points, 8 assists), author of a very important award-winning basket also during «l’extra-time».
Denver, who had lost his coach Michael Malone expelled in the third quarter, had nevertheless done everything to spend a quieter evening and led by 21 points (34-13) at the end of the first quarter.
But New Orleans, which remained on four successes in a row, notably against Phoenix and Utah, has asserted itself in recent weeks as one of the very best teams in the West. Still deprived of Zion Williamson, the Pelicans (10th) rely on winger Brandon Ingram (38 points, 9 rebounds), author among other things of a basket at thirteen meters to return to five lengths at the break (57-62 ), pivot Jonas Valanciunas (19 points, 14 rebounds) and Portland defector CJ McCollum (24 points, 9 assists) to settle in the play-off race (play-in, between teams ranked between 7th and 10th place in each Conference).
