By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite Nikola Jokic averaging 24.5 points, 13.5 assists, and 11.8 rebounds early in the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season, the Denver Nuggets are down 1-3. The Sacramento Kings defeating them for the second time in one week was the most recent loss. Jokic had 26 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds for his third triple-double of the season, but also ten turnovers.
“Twenty turnovers on the road for 37 points,” pointed out head coach Mike Malone, “Nikola had 10. Unacceptable. He can’t have 10 turnovers in a game.”
The ill-affected quadruple-double still produced his 44th career triple-double propelling the Joker to 9th place on the NBA all-time list and to the top spot of the list of Nuggets players with the most triple-doubles. Fat Lever up to Tuesday sharing first place congratulated his successor.
“We lacked focus. We were probably trying too much,” Jokic mentioned summing up the team performance in the loss, 125-115, “We kind of made ourselves easy to guard. Collectively we need to move our bodies better, then move the ball. We helped them a lot, just standing and not moving around.”
Coming up Friday, the Phoenix Suns at home. The Minnesota Timberwolves will be next Sunday and Tuesday.