1 day Ago By Associated Press
Michael Malone called him Superman. At the moment, Nikola Jokić is just super tired. The Denver Nuggets star mustered a career-best 61-point performance in which he played nearly 53 minutes.
He didn’t leave the court after halftime of a 140-139 double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. His scoring spree was the most by a player in the NBA this season. Jokić also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, notching just the third 60-point triple-double in NBA history.
The others to do so were Luka Dončić in December 2022 and James Harden in January 2018. “The guy’s Superman,” Nuggets coach Malone said. “He’s on a whole other level, man.
People say he’s not athletic, but not many guys can do what he does.” On Tuesday, Jokić attempted 24 free throws – making 19 – to match the team mark held by Carmelo Anthony. For all his exploits, Jokic had just one over-riding emotion: “Tired,” he said.
“It was an exhausting game.” Anthony Edwards gave the three-time NBA MVP major props. Jokić is in a heated MVP race with Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jokić won the award last season. “Nikola Jokić, he might be the best basketball player that I have ever seen close up, besides myself,” joked Edwards, who had 34 points and 10 rebounds. “He is incredible.
The MVP race is tough. I don’t know. He had 60.
That is crazy.” This game – a sixth straight loss for Denver to Minnesota, including playoffs – will be remembered by Nuggets fans for Jokić’s exploits on the court. But it will also be remembered for a wild finish.
Leading 139-138 with around 14 seconds left, Russell Westbrook stole the ball and dished it over to Christian Braun who then sent it back to Westbrook for a layup. But Westbrook’s layup clanked off the rim and started a break the other way. Westbrook ran down the court and fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the corner with 0.
1 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves guard hit two of three free throws to steal the victory. “Obviously, I feel awful for Russ,” Malone said.
“That last play we get the turnover, we don’t convert, and then the foul. It was not from a lack of effort or care. Sometimes it goes like that, and that’s why we’ve just got to be strong.
We’ve got to be resilient.” The big question: Should the Nuggets have pulled the ball back out to run down the clock instead of attempting the layup? “It’s tough. You’ve got a two-on-one break,” Malone said.
“As a coach, am I up on the sideline yelling, ‘Don’t go?’ We’ve got a layup. But it’s easy to say that [pull the ball out] in hindsight, because we missed a layup. .
.. [Westbrook] is a tough kid, and I think he knows that everybody in that locker room’s got his back.
” For Jokić, there’s not much time for rest. The Nuggets play on Wednesday night against San Antonio. “I think we’re so used to this,” Jokić said.
“Tomorrow, I’m not going to remember I played so many minutes.” Jokić was not the only MVP to put in an impressive performance on Tuesday night. Stephen Curry scored 52 points, including 12 three-pointers, as the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 134-125.
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