By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets made the NBA Playoffs for the sixth year in a row. They officially secured at least sixth place in the Western Conference table and thus a direct ticket to the 2024 Playoffs on Sunday.
Opening the NBA Sundays schedule, Nikola Jokic jumped to 23 triple-doubles for the 2023-24 Regular Season and his side routed the Cleveland Cavaliers, 130-101, in Ball Arena. A team effort of 21/33 from beyond the arc added to a dominant showing for the defending champions.
Dealing with inflammation in the left hip and right wrist, the Serbian superstar complemented his bid for most valuable player of the season with 26 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists to go with one steal over 35 minutes. At the break, he was two rebounds and one assist off a triple-double. After getting the job done in the third quarter, the lead ballooned to over 20 points, more than enough for the team coached by Michael Malone.
Besides Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) stuck to the injury list, Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation) and Zeke Nnaji (right adductor tendinosis) were out as well. The Joker was instead cleared for action and was his usual self paving the way to snap a two-game losing streak.
Improving the W-L record to 52-23, the Nuggets leapfrogged the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder for a narrow lead in the West. Battling for the best possible seed in the East, the Cavs were forced down to 45-30.