By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a nail-biter, the Denver Nuggets edged out the Oklahoma City Thunder, 124-122, in Ball Arena on Wednesday night.
Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double, his fourth in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
Packing 23 points behind 9/20 field goals, 20 rebounds, 16 assists, two blocks and two steals, the Serbian superstar pushed his side to 5-3, while handing the visitors their first loss of the season.
In addition to missing Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (right ankle sprain) was sidelined. Croatian Dario Saric was available but did not play.
On the wrong end of the exciting battle, French Ousmane Dieng and Belgian Ajay Mitchell were limited to reserve roles, pairing six points with four rebounds and scoring three points, respectively. Dutch Malevy Leons stayed on the bench. German Isaiah Hartenstein (left hand fracture) and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) remained on the injury list.
Besides the Joker, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis also recorded a triple-double, lifting the Sacramento Kings to a win, 122-107, against the Toronto Raptors in Golden 1 Center. Connecting 6/6 field goals and 5/5 free throws, he tallied 17 points plus 13 assists and 11 rebounds. “He was a tough cover,” confessed Darko Rajakovic, the Serbian head coach of the Raptors.
Coming off the bench for the Kings, Ukrainian Alex Len chipped in three points, six rebounds, and four blocks.
For the team coached by Rajakovic, Austrian Jakob Poeltl finished with ten points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.