Jokić finished the game with a very efficient 24 points (9/12 shooting, 1/2 three-pointers, 5/5 free throws) with 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The tenth pass, with which he reached the triple-double, was one of his anthology. His teammate threw the ball to him on the counter across the entire field, and Jokić, with two local players on his heels, left it with one touch without looking over his head for the running Aaron Gordon, who scored a spectacular dunk.
JOKIC IS UNREAL.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 18, 2025
“I had to score it, I shouldn’t have ruined a pass like that,” commented Gordon, who finished with 16 points, after the game. Jamal Murray had another top game with 30 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami team after a seven-game suspension due to destructive behavior for the club and scored 18 points, and Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 in the replay of the 2023 NBA Finals.
Jokić reached the triple-double at the end of the third quarter. It’s already his 17th of the season – in which no one else has more than eight – and 147th of his career, but the 18th on at least 75% shooting, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the all-time lead. reports Index.hr.
In an interview on the floor, a journalist asked Jokić why he doesn’t always wear a protective sleeve when he gets scratched so much during matches, which can be seen by the marks left on his hands. The three-time MVP joked, “So how else am I going to show the judges what they’re doing to me?”
Nikola Jokic postgame on why he doesn’t always wear elbow sleeves as he did tonight, given how badly his arms always get scratched up:
“But how am I going to show to the officials? ‘Look!’”#Nuggets #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/Xw97iNdmvY
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) January 18, 2025
With the return of Jokić, Denver returned to winning ways and with a ratio of 25-16 is fourth in the West, while Miami is eighth in the East with 20-20.
Results:
Boston – Orlando 121:94
New York – Minnesota 99:116
Milwaukee – Toronto 130:112
Miami – Denver 113:133
Chicago – Charlotte 123:125
New Orleans – Utah 136:123
Dallas – Oklahoma City 106:98
San Antonio – Memphis 112:140
LA Lakers – Brooklyn 102:101
(Vijesti.ba)
