Nikola Jokic had a huge game for the Nuggets in their 88-82 win Monday night over the Portland Trail Blazers, picking up his tenth triple-double of the season.
Jokic had 15 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists in the victory that kept the Nuggets in control of their playoff destiny with one more game left on the season.
The Nuggets were able to hold the Trail Blazers to 33 points in the second half, and a huge reason for that was because of Jokic’s excellence on the defensive glass. The Trail Blazers had 18 offensive rebounds in the game, with former Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic grabbing eight on his own. However, in the second half, Denver kept Portland from extending possessions and getting second chance points, and that allowed them to extend a run long enough to secure a lead that they would protect down the stretch.
Jokic wasn’t feeling his jumper for a second game in a row, but he still was able to make an impact through his rebounding, court awareness, ability to knock down free throws, and his clutch defense. This was one of the best Jokic games, in terms of his play on both ends of the court, of the season, and it was Game 81 of the regular season!
You’re going to want to remember these highlights for a long time.
