Serbian basketball player Nikola Joki\u0107 recorded 44 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in Denver\u2019s 128-123 loss to Sacramento. Despite giving his all, he couldn\u2019t lead his team to a 13th victory this season, though the team remains at the top of the Western Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The loss to the Kings stings, especially considering it ended a dominant seven-game winning streak against the California-based team. This was largely thanks to Russell Westbrook, former Nuggets player, who scored crucial points at the end that sealed the fate of Joki\u0107\u2019s squad. Joki\u0107 commented on the game in a media interview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA tough game for us, the first half was full of missed shots and turnovers\u2014especially mine. We were slow, always a step behind, and they played very well, especially in the third quarter. We weren\u2019t light on our feet, and they attacked us,\u201d Joki\u0107 said, adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI gave everything I had to win the game. We had a chance, but they made very important baskets, which is why they won.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, the Serbian center remained modest about both his and the team\u2019s performance. He is aware that such a strong individual performance means little on its own, only increasing the target on their backs and potentially creating a false perception of the team\u2019s real abilities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think a 12-4 record at the start of the season doesn\u2019t reflect the real picture of our team. I think we\u2019re not that good and we need to be much better if we want to achieve results. We play better and look better, but it has to be consistent. We need to make smart mistakes that come from our system, not meaningless attacks. Rebounds, confident shots, good positioning\u2014we can and must be better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n