Jokic’s 55 points end Nuggets’ winless streak in his 50-point games

Nikola Jokic has had immense scoring nights before, nevertheless they ne'er seemed to construe into wins for the Denver Nuggets. That changed successful Los Angeles.

The three-time MVP poured successful 55 points successful a 130-116 roadworthy triumph implicit the LA Clippers, snapping a unusual 0-4 tally successful games wherever helium had scored astatine slightest 50. This clip helium walked disconnected with the triumph and a elemental enactment that summed it up: "It's a bully feeling," the three-time NBA MVP said.

He tied the highest-scoring show successful the NBA this season, matching Oklahoma City prima Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 55-point outburst successful treble overtime astatine Indiana successful October.

Jokic did it connected the 2nd nighttime of a back-to-back, carrying Denver from the start. He enactment up 25 of the Nuggets’ 39 points successful the archetypal 4th alone. Early connected helium was not blessed with his touch. "I didn't unfastened the crippled truly good," helium said. "I deliberation I missed similar two, 3 layups, and aft that I felt good."

A historical agelong of dominance

This show is portion of a singular run. Jokic has go the archetypal subordinate successful NBA past to mean a 35-point triple-double portion shooting astatine slightest 60% implicit a six-game span. Over that stretch, helium is putting up 35.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 11.0 assists portion hitting 73.9% from the tract and 55.6% from three.

Defenses person tried everything to dilatory him down. "I deliberation I saw everything," helium said, "but I deliberation it's hard. We are truly moving a batch of plays for me, each benignant of antithetic plays."

Coach David Adelman praised the mode his prima prepares. "The mode helium played contiguous is however helium works retired erstwhile nary 1 is watching," manager David Adelman said. "He prepares each time for situations similar this."

Jokic finished 18-for-23 from the floor, 5-of-6 from heavy and 14-of-16 astatine the line. "The guys, particularly successful the 4th quarter, they're giving maine the ball," helium said. "I conscionable support shooting it."

He concisely returned successful the 4th fourth to dependable things arsenic the Clippers pressed. "He was extraordinary," Adelson said. "That's 1 of those performances you won't forget." The manager made his reasoning clear. "They started to property america and he's 1 of our champion shot handlers, he's a feline that tin bleed the clock, he's 1 of the champion players alive," the manager said. "It would beryllium anserine for maine not to enactment my champion players backmost successful to marque definite we triumph the game."