Nikola Jokić fought like a lion, endured numerous referee injustices, and ultimately led Denver to victory in one of the toughest games of the season against the heavily reinforced Sacramento Kings: 116-110.
Nuggets coach Mike Malone challenged referee calls four times in just ten minutes, and each time he was proven right, clearly showing the kind of officiating the home team faced in this conference showdown.
In the end, the best player in the world decided the game. Despite struggling against Lithuanian giant Valančiūnas and other defenders constantly pressuring him, they failed to break him. Jokić finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Denver’s top scorer was a rejuvenated Westbrook with 25 points (5 rebounds, 3 assists), followed by Murray (24 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds) and Brown (15 points, 7 assists). Nnaji surprised with a strong performance, contributing 10 points and 3 rebounds, with his three-pointer possibly being the game-changer.
For the Kings, DeRozan led the way with 35 points (5 assists, 6 rebounds), while midseason acquisition LaVine added 20 points (6 assists, 4 rebounds).
The Nuggets remain in third place in the Western Conference with a 40-22 record, while Sacramento holds the 9th spot (32-29) in the same conference.
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Source: Antonije Kovačević Foto: Mediji