Another NBA night, another Nikola Jokić triple-double, another Denver win! Portland fell 132-121, the second time in three nights, as the Blazers had to concede defeat to the MVP. The Serbian star from Sombor recorded 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, but it was Jamal Murray’s night with 55 points!
Nikola Jokić delivered his usual performance, securing his 25th triple-double of the 2024/2025 season, leading the league in that category. He spent 36 minutes on the court, shooting 11/20 from the field, 0/3 from three-point range, and 4/4 from the free-throw line, with two steals and four turnovers.
However, this night belonged to Jamal Murray, who scored a career-high 55 points. This is excellent news for Jokić and coach Michael Malone, especially after Michael Porter Jr.’s recent explosive performances, now joined by Murray’s brilliance.
Murray shot 20/36 from the field, including 7/15 from beyond the arc, in 42 minutes of play, adding four rebounds and five assists. This was enough for Denver’s eighth consecutive victory, currently the longest active winning streak in the NBA.
jokic’s PER this season is the highest of all-time 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5WotUnqdcO
— buckets (@buckets) February 13, 2025
Nikola Jokić also boasts the best active Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of all time, surpassing both his 2021/2022 season and Wilt Chamberlain’s record.
Christian Braun also stood out for Denver with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Zeke Nnaji contributed 16 points, while Julian Strawther added 11.
NEW CAREER HIGH IN PTS FOR JAMAL MURRAY 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) February 13, 2025
The floater gives him 51 on the night 🤯 pic.twitter.com/OxVTEYr63r
On the other side, Anfernee Simons scored 26 points, Deandre Ayton had 17 points and 20 rebounds, Jabari Walker added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Deni Avdija finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
Two days ago, Portland was crushed 146-117, and while this loss was slightly more bearable, they trailed significantly for most of the game. At the start of the final quarter, Denver led by 18 points, controlling the tempo until the end, allowing the Blazers to cut the deficit to nine points a few times.
Denver’s perfect run of eight wins comes just before the All-Star break, with Charlotte and then Luka Dončić’s Lakers visiting Colorado. That game, set for February 23, is sure to draw plenty of attention.
Text: Sportal Foto: