1 week Ago By Sam Amico, Hoops Wire
Can Nikola Jokic win another NBA MVP? The answer early this season is a resounding yes, it seems. That’s because Jokic and the Nuggets managed to pull off a gutsy 144-139 overtime road win against the Nets on Tuesday — despite the weight of back-to-back games and heavy minutes for the starters. Coach Michael Malone’s squad looked fatigued from Monday’s overtime victory in Toronto, and it showed as they fell behind early by 17 points.
But the Nuggets didn’t fold. Jokic, unfazed as usual, notched a remarkable triple-double with 29 points, 18 boards, and 16 assists, keeping Denver in striking distance. Late in the fourth, with Denver down three, Malone trusted Jokic with back-to-back clutch post-ups that delivered again.
Brooklyn failed to counter the MVP, who went to work with his classic hook shot to force overtime. By the way, Russell Westbrook brought his own brand of intensity, playing like a man possessed, finding open shooters and finishing at the line, scoring 22 points in reserve. When he drained a three late in the third quarter, then dished a perfect pass to Peyton Watson in the fourth, it was a moment of redemption for the Nuggets’ struggling second unit.
Malone admitted the toll of long minutes in consecutive games isn’t sustainable, especially this early in the season. But Denver got the job done on the road in what felt like a high-stakes battle. And Jokic? He looked every bit like the reigning MVP, once again proving he’s one of the league’s most unstoppable closers.
More NBA | Available free agents by position This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission..
