By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Digging their way out of an early double-digit hole, the Denver Nuggets bounced back with a win, 122-103, against the shorthanded Utah Jazz in Delta Center on Wednesday.
Nikola Jokic paved the way with 30 points behind 13/19 from the field, including two three-pointers. His ten rebounds drew a double-double. Over 33 minutes, he threw in seven assists, one block, and one steal.
The Nuggets improved to 10-7 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
“Just because we won the game doesn’t mean we played well. We need to do a better job, just be focused, be more in cover, and more in the details,” noted the Serbian superstar.
European teammates were sidelined with Croatian Dario Saric staying on the bench and Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee sprain) on the injury list.
For the hosts, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk started with Finnish Lauri Markkanen (left knee contusion) out and recorded seven points, one steal, and one assist over 21 minutes.
Salaun: “It was cool out there”
In Spectrum Center, Serbian Vasilije Micic lasted 14 minutes with the Charlotte Hornets rallying from a 20-point deficit before falling, 98-94, to the Miami Heat. The former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP logged six points, two rebounds, and one assist.
French Tidjane Salaun stayed on the court for nearly 38 minutes, including an important role down the stretch. “It was cool out there. It was about my confidence, going game by game,” he said after putting up 17 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists, “That’s the type of basketball I like, when we share the ball, trust the pass. I have a lot of fun out there.”
Coming off the bench, French Moussa Diabate registered 11 rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 33 minutes.
Swedish Pelle Larsson tallied six points and two rebounds on the winning end. Serbian Nikola Jovic (nasal fracture) did not play.