Revenge is sweetest when served cold, but it’s not bad when you deliver it the very next night, as Nikola Jokić did in a two-game series with the San Antonio Spurs. After a loss at home in an exciting finish, the Nuggets returned the favor on the road, in an even more interesting match that ended in overtime, and in which the main role was played by… guess who?
The Serbian national team player played another MVP-level game and with 46 points spoiled the 21st birthday of the young rising French star, Victor Wembanyama.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
In the uncertain end of regulation time, with the score at 108:108, Nikola had a shot for the win, but the ball went out. But in overtime, one team and one player dominated, and the Spurs scored only 3 points, for a final 111:122.
The statistics only confirmed that last year’s MVP is the biggest candidate to win this prestigious NBA award again this year. Jokić finished the match, as we’ve already said, with 46 points (shooting 35-19), had 10 assists, and was one rebound (9) short of another triple-double, along with two blocks and two steals.
With this score, the Serbian national team player once again made history, tying with the legendary Wilt Chamberlain for the number of games with 45 points and at least 10 assists.
Nikola Jokic ties Wilt Chamberlain for the most 45p/10a games by a center in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/PViRZcM20R
— Real Sports (@realapp_) January 5, 2025
But who cares about statistics… Nikola certainly cares the least.
In the Colorado team, Porter Jr. also had an excellent performance with 28 points and 10 rebounds, Murray finished the match with 13 (6 as, 6 re, 5 st), and Westbrook played his usual good game (9 p, 10 re, 6 as).
In the losing team, the best was the birthday boy Wembanyama with 20 points and as many as 23 rebounds, and veteran Harrison Barnes supported him with 22 points.
Denver is still fourth in the West with a score of 20-14, while San Antonio is in 9th place with a record of 18-17.
Text: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images