Jokić and company clearly did not forget that recent loss to the Kings on their home court in that strange game where the Serb scored 44 points, but the hero of the game was still the former “Nugget” Russell Westbrook.
Denver arrived in Sacramento sharpened to return the favor, starting fiercely and finishing the game the same way, with a final 31-point difference – 136:105!
Nikola scored 16 points in the first quarter alone, with almost flawless shooting, and continued in that rhythm until coach Adelman took him out in the third quarter and left him on the bench with a terrifying performance of 36 points (14-16 total shooting, 2-2 for three), 12 rebounds, and 8 assists in just 29 minutes.
He was followed by Watson with 21 points, Johnson with 16, Valančiūnas made the most of his chance with 15 scored and 6 caught balls, and Murray focused more on setting up teammates than scoring (11p, 9as).
In the home team, Monk was above average with 18 (5as, 4rb), Westbrook with 17 (5as, 3rb), and Rayno, Murray, and Carter, all with 15 points each.
The Nuggets jumped to the second position in the Western Conference with a 17-6 record, while the Kings languish at the bottom of the table, in 12th position with 6-18.
The next game for Jokić and his brothers will be played in their Ball Arena against Houston, after four away games, in a clash for the position of the first runner-up to the undisputed Oklahoma.
Divac hosted Jokić in Sacramento
Nikola Jokić was welcomed tonight in Sacramento, as a true host, by the legend of the home Kings and Serbian basketball, Vlade Divac.
The two aces talked and laughed before the game, and Divac jokingly asked Jokara not to be cruel to his team. His request was obviously not granted…
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Author: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images