By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
At the middle-point of the six-game road trip, the Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans and improved to 27-21 Friday night. Nikola Jokic produced his sixth triple-double in January and 69th overall in his NBA career.
Jokic, 26, was held to seven points in a tight first half but was unstoppable in the second half for the 29-point effort at the Smoothie King Center. He contributed 13 rebounds, ten assists, and two steals as well.
“He can take over a game when he wants,” explained teammate Bryn Forbes, “That’s what he did.”
The reigning NBA MVP scored 16 points, including all of his four three-pointers, in the third quarter. He has connected 1.6 three-pointers per game banking in 37.1% of his attempts so far this season.
“When Jokic is making threes, he’s pretty much unguardable,” described Aaron Gordon, “Just the MVP doing MVP things.”
The Nuggets put the game beyond doubt in the fourth quarter outlasting the shorthanded Pelicans missing Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas, among others. Ranking sixth in the Western Conference and holding on to the lowest spot awarding a direct ticket to the Playoffs is the current picture for Denver.
The Joker has averaged 26.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks per 2021-22 contest, highlighted by 12 triple-doubles.
Up next is an intriguing affair opposite the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo Sunday. It will not get much simpler with visits at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz completing the six-game road trip.
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