NBA: Nikola Jokic dominated by the Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic had run very hot once again – as hot as only once before in his NBA career. (Schedule for the 2020/21 NBA season)

Whether from behind the three-point line, on the board after quick moves around his opponents or from the middle distance – the 2.11 meter tall Serb in the service of the Denver Nuggets transformed his throws at 128: 117 against the Utah Jazz dreamlike from all positions.

The 25-year-old contributed 47 points, twelve rebounds and five assists in the win against the second-placed team in the Western Conference, which had previously recorded eleven wins in a row.

Thanks mainly to Jokic, after a weak start to the season (1: 4 balance after five games), the Nuggets are now fourth in the west with twelve wins and eight defeats.

For Jokic, the impressive performance against Jazz wasn’t a flash in the pan either – the Center has delivered in every game of the season so far. And is thus the hottest candidate in the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the regular season.

Heat coach Spoelstra: Jokic “at MVP level”

His statistics so far are outstanding: 26.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and a field throw rate of 57.4 percent. All of these are carrer highs. (Tables of the NBA)

“He plays at MVP level – in every facet of his game,” said Erik Spoelstra, coach of the Miami Heat after Jokic had shone against his team the previous week with 21 points and eleven rebounds.

Against Jazz, he scored 47 points for the second time in his career, and he was again entered in the record books of this season. His 33 points in the first half were the most in the first half of an NBA game this season.

It was also the best half of a Nuggets player since Allen Iverson had also scored 33 points on December 5, 2007.

Jokic: One double-double after the other

In the 20th game of the season, the “Joker” achieved his 20th double-double. He surpassed last year’s MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who started with 19 double doubles in a row last season.

In his current form, Jokic is even to be trusted that he will break the record of 34 double doubles in a row at the start of a 1977 season for Bill Walton.

Test DAZN for free and experience the NBA live & on demand | DISPLAY

In mid-January he even managed a triple-double in the game against the Golden State Warriors with 23 points, 14 rebounds and ten assists. It was the 46th time that he set double-digit numbers in three categories in the NBA.

No wonder that Jokic’s opponents are close to desperation in view of his dominance. “He’s a great player, he’s had good numbers all year round,” said jazz actor Derrick Favors at the Jokic gala.

Gobert quarrels with himself

His teammate Rudy Gobert, one of the NBA’s best defenders, accused himself of not having slowed Jokic. “I should have done a much better job. He scored far too easily, especially in the first half. I take full responsibility for that,” said the Frenchman, who had been named the best defensive player in the league in recent years.

Jokic himself reacted calmly to his gala performance in a TV interview. “I’m just glad we won the game. It was a really nice win for us. Hopefully I’ll score when we need it,” he said.

His humility is something that Colorado fans and fellow players appreciate very much about Jokic. “I told him to get 50 more points. But you know him, he doesn’t care. He just plays basketball,” said Nuggets-Forward Will Barton.

Discover the game world of SPORT1 now – This way!

Instead of attacking his new career points, Jokic sat down on the bench with 1:39 minutes left on the clock to give a substitute player more time to play.

Jokic is losing 20 pounds

One reason for his dream season is his physical condition. Before the 2019/20 season, his official weight was given as 128.8 kilos. At the restart of last season after the Corona break, Jokic suddenly appeared 20 kilograms lighter.

How the severe weight loss came about is unknown. In any case, it had a positive effect on his game. The loss of robustness and physical presence caused by the weight loss did not have a negative effect.

But Jokic is more agile and is noticeably faster on his feet.

From cola junkie to franchise player

His change to a “top athlete” is all the more remarkable when looking back at his past. As Jokic revealed in a 2018 interview, he was a real cola junkie as a teenager:

“I drank three liters of Coke every day. After training, I drank one glass after the other. I couldn’t stop,” said the center, which was drafted in 2014 in 41st place.

He has since completely renounced the caffeine drink: “I drank the last Coke of my life on the flight to Denver.”

He has long since become a franchise star there. After a good rookie season, he improved from year to year. The reward: In the summer of 2018, he signed a new contract for $ 146 million for five years.

Jokic is now paying back his trust in him with MVP services.

–