Mike Malone compared Nikola Jokic to Pete Maravich after triple-double

2024-01-13T10:40:30+00:00 2024-01-13T11:25:16+00:00.

Cesare Milanti

13/Jan/24 10:40

Eurohoops.net
Jokic-Malone
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 15: Nikola Jokic #15 and Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets are recognized for making the NBA All-Star team at Ball Arena on February 15, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Grace Bradley/Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets’ head coach talked about his superstar by comparing him to legendary Pistol Pete Maravich

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

During the NBA Night, Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a 125-113 win against the New Orleans Pelicans, winning the duel with Jonas Valanciunas by delivering the 12th triple-double of this year’s Regular Season.

The Serbian Joker won the clash with a performance of 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists. “We played a little bit faster, I think. We were the ones who were aggressive. We pushed the pace. I think that was the difference”, he commented after the victory, beating the Lithuanian center, who had 17 points and 6 rebounds in a sloppy shooting night with 5/11 from the field. However, he became the all-time Lithuanian scorer in the NBA with 10.978 points, surpassing Zydrunas Ilgauskas (10.976).

At the end of the first half, he also delivered an assist with a blind, behind-the-back, and over-his-head alley-oop pass to Aaron Gordon. “I didn’t imagine the behind-the-back, over-the-head pass. When you’re a young kid watching NBA basketball, that’s Magic Johnson, that’s “Pistol” Pete Maravich, the guys that just had this pizazz to their game”, Mike Malone shared after the game.

“Nikola [Jokic] can beat you a lot of ways and that was one of the best passes I’ve seen him make”, the Denver Nuggets head coach added. Nikola Jokic himself also commented on this play. “I just saw him in a blink of an eye, and I just wanted to pass to him as soon as I can. Because he’s open in that moment, not a moment after that. So, that was the quickest way to pass him the ball”, he said.

NBA Results and other European performances

Philadelphia 76ersSacramento Kings 112-93 (Sabonis 14 p, 12 r, 5 a; Vezenkov 2 p, 5 r; Batum 14 p, 5 r, 3 a)
Atlanta HawksIndiana Pacers 108-126 (Bogdan Bogdanovic 10 p, 5 r)
Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets 110-112 (Sengun 29 p, 6 r; Hayes 5 p, 4 r, 8 a)
Miami HeatOrlando Magic 99-96 (Bitadze 2 p, 9 r; Mo Wagner 19 p, 5 r, 4 a; Jovic 4 p, 3 r, 4 a)
Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors 131-140 (Vucevic 14 p, 7 r; Saric 12 p, 7 r, 6 a)
Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Clippers 119-128 (Zubac 6 p, 11 r; 7 p, 5 r, 4 a)
Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers 116-93 (Gobert 24 p, 17 r)
San Antonio SpursCharlotte Hornets 135-99 (Wembanyama 26 p, 11 r; Sochan 13 p, 6 r, 4 a; Osman 11 p)
Utah JazzToronto Raptors 145-113 (Markkanen 22 p, 9 r; Fontecchio 13 p; Schroder 12 p)
Denver Nuggets – New Orleans Pelicans 125-113

Standings (via NBA.com)

Eastern Conference

TEAM W L WIN% GB CONF DIV HOME ROAD OT LAST10 STREAK
1

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Boston Celtics

29 9 .763 22-6 10-1 18-0 11-9 2-3 7-3 L 1
2

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Milwaukee Bucks

26 12 .684 3 21-10 6-5 17-4 9-8 1-1 5-5 W 1
3

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Philadelphia 76ers

24 13 .649 4.5 17-10 5-3 14-6 10-7 0-2 5-5 W 1
4

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Indiana Pacers

23 15 .605 6 20-11 9-2 13-8 10-7 0-0 9-1 W 3
5

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Cleveland Cavaliers

22 15 .595 6.5 14-9 3-3 13-8 9-7 2-0 7-3 W 4
6

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New York Knicks

22 16 .579 7 16-9 4-3 11-4 11-12 0-0 6-4 L 1
7

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Miami Heat

22 16 .579 7 16-10 8-0 11-7 11-9 0-0 6-4 W 1
8

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Orlando Magic

21 17 .553 8 15-10 5-3 13-5 8-12 1-1 4-6 L 2
9

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Chicago Bulls

18 22 .450 12 12-15 3-5 13-10 5-12 4-2 5-5 L 1
10

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Brooklyn Nets

16 22 .421 13 13-12 1-4 10-9 6-13 0-2 3-7 L 2
11

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Atlanta Hawks

15 22 .405 13.5 10-18 4-4 6-10 9-12 2-1 3-7 L 1
12

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Toronto Raptors

15 24 .385 14.5 9-17 0-9 9-9 6-15 1-1 4-6 L 3
13

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Charlotte Hornets

8 28 .222 20 7-17 3-5 4-13 4-15 1-1 1-9 L 4
14

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Washington Wizards

6 31 .162 22.5 4-25 1-9 3-13 3-18 0-0 1-9 L 6
15

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Detroit Pistons

3 36 .077 26.5 3-20 1-7 2-17 1-19 0-2 1-9 L 7

Western Conference

TEAM W L WIN% GB CONF DIV HOME ROAD OT LAST10 STREAK
1

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Minnesota Timberwolves

27 11 .711 19-6 5-1 15-2 12-9 1-1 5-5 W 1
2

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Oklahoma City Thunder

26 11 .703 0.5 15-8 6-2 15-5 11-6 2-0 8-2 W 3
3

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Denver Nuggets

27 13 .675 1 17-10 2-4 16-4 11-9 0-0 7-3 W 1
4

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LA Clippers

25 13 .658 2 19-10 6-3 16-4 9-9 0-1 8-2 W 3
5

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Sacramento Kings

23 15 .605 4 15-12 5-4 13-7 10-8 3-0 6-4 L 1
6

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Dallas Mavericks

23 16 .590 4.5 17-13 6-4 12-8 11-8 0-0 6-4 W 1
7

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New Orleans Pelicans

23 16 .590 4.5 16-14 4-5 12-8 11-8 0-1 6-4 L 1
8

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Phoenix Suns

20 18 .526 7 13-14 4-7 11-11 9-7 2-0 6-4 W 1
9

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Houston Rockets

19 18 .514 7.5 14-10 7-2 15-6 4-12 0-3 4-6 W 1
10

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Utah Jazz

20 20 .500 8 11-15 4-5 13-5 7-15 2-1 8-2 W 4
11

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Los Angeles Lakers

19 20 .487 8.5 14-13 5-3 13-7 6-13 1-1 4-6 L 1
12

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Golden State Warriors

18 20 .474 9 11-16 3-6 11-11 7-9 1-2 4-6 W 1
13

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Memphis Grizzlies

14 24 .368 13 11-20 6-6 3-14 11-10 1-1 5-5 L 1
14

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Portland Trail Blazers

10 28 .263 17 5-22 1-6 5-11 5-17 2-2 3-7 L 3
15

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San Antonio Spurs

7 30 .189 19.5 5-19 1-7 3-15 4-15 1-1 3-7 W 2

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