The first name of the game was Serbian Nuggets center Nikola Jokić. Three-time MVP of the league and candidate for the most valuable player of the regular part of the season, the duel in Houston ended one step away from the triple-double, and he scored 34 points, with 10 rebounds and nine assists.
The Rockets, whose streak of five consecutive victories was interrupted by this defeat, fell behind by 13 points in the first half, but on the wings of a cheerful Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. returned to the match and led by five points eight minutes before the end.
Then the Nuggets responded with a series of their own, and Jokić finished it all off, hitting two free throws with three seconds left for a three-point advantage.
Alperen Şengün’s attempt on the overtime horn did not end up in the basket.
The matchup between the two biggest threats to Oklahoma City’s dominance in the West gave the Nuggets (12-3) a lead over the Rockets (10-4) in the NBA Cup standings, where they are now 2-1 in their division.
The Rockets face Golden State in San Francisco on Wednesday, while the Nuggets finish the group stage against San Antonio next week.
(Vijesti.ba)
