Nikola Jokic showcased his all-around expertise on Tuesday by scoring 31 factors, securing 13 rebounds and distributing 10 assists, marking his thirteenth triple-double of the season.
He efficiently transformed three of 4 makes an attempt from 3-point vary, with an important shot late within the first half and a decisive one with 6.1 seconds remaining, securing the Denver Nuggets’s 114-109 conquer the Indiana Pacers.
Remarkably, he dedicated just one turnover in the course of the sport.
He even helped the refs by urging coach Michael Malone to problem calls twice, getting each proper. The second problem preserved a key late possession that helped thwart the Pacers’ cost. And, after all, Jokic responded with a 3 to provide Denver a 105-103 lead with 3:10 to go.
“We’ve been together for nine years, and he’s proven to be very trustworthy,” Malone stated of Jokic’s lobbying efforts for challenges. “I think we’ve won five challenges in a row, and those can be game-changing plays. I thought that late one was. So it works out in our favor.”
Jamal Murray additionally scored 31 factors. Together, Murray and Jokic made all the massive performs down the stretch as Denver gained its third straight total and for the eighth consecutive time over the Pacers.
Myles Turner led Indiana with 22 factors, whereas Pascal Siakam added 16 factors and 10 rebounds in his first residence sport since being traded to Indiana final week. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton once more sat out with a strained left hamstring and has already been dominated out of Indiana’s subsequent two video games.
Even Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who drew two fast technical fouls and was ejected within the third quarter, knew the distinction was Jokic.
“The two defining plays of the game were the three at the end of the first half and the three at the end,” Carlisle stated. “He’s much more aggressively looking for those shots in those situations and there’s no hesitation. Those are great players making great plays.”
The Pacers have misplaced three straight total, this one coming as two of the league’s 5 highest-scoring groups struggled offensively at occasions.
Yet the defending NBA champions nonetheless had sufficient scoring punch – and simply sufficient protection – to fend off Indiana’s late push after taking a 93-81 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Pacers methodically fought their means again, tying the rating at 100 earlier than taking a 103-102 lead on Ben Sheppard’s 3-pointer with 3:42 left. On the Nuggets’ subsequent possession, Jokic was referred to as for a foul, and he instantly lobbied his coach for a problem. After just a few moments, the foul was referred to as on Sheppard, and Jokic made the go-ahead basket to spur a closing 12-6 run to seal the victory.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
