After taking part in huge minutes in three video games in 4 nights, Nikola Jokic determined to get his triple-double completed early Wednesday night time.
Jokic sat the complete fourth quarter of the 19-13 Denver Nuggets’ 139-120 win over the 18-16 Atlanta Hawks after the Nuggets had a 20-point lead after three quarters. He earned that relaxation after scoring 23 factors, dishing 15 assists and grabbing 17 rebounds for his league-leading 14th triple-double of the season.
He nearly bought there earlier than halftime. In his first two quarters, Jokic had 14 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. The Nuggets scored 74 factors earlier than halftime and had been +14 with Jokic on the courtroom, although they led by solely three factors on the break. So the Joker turned it up within the third quarter, posting 10 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists as Denver outscored Atlanta 41-24.
A few of these huge stats got here from Jokic’s newfound synergy with Russell Westbrook, who completed with 11 assists one recreation after his perfect-shooting triple double Monday.
Jokic had three assists passing to Westbrook within the recreation, and Westbrook had three assists passing to Jokic.
The passing was contagious. Denver completed with 44 assists, the second-highest complete for a single recreation this season.
It was fairly a show for Jokic, and a well-earned relaxation. He will want it. Friday, the Nuggets face the San Antonio Spurs and 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama.
