Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets with 40 points

The Denver Nuggets experienced a spectacular triumph against the Atlanta Hawks, and Nikola Jokic was the main fig of the evening. The large halfway scored 40 points, had 8 rebounds and 9 assists, starring his squad to a 134:133 triumph aft they overcame a 23-point deficit. It was the ninth consecutive distant triumph for the squad from Colorado.

The Hawks had 1 past thrust for a 3-pointer that would person fixed them overtime, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker was blocked by Jamal Murray. Alexander-Walker inactive managed to trim the quality to conscionable 1 handbasket 2 seconds earlier the end.

The lucifer was particularly marked by Jalen Johnson, who achieved a triple-double; 21 points, 18 rebounds and a grounds 16 assists. Johnson returned from a calf wounded to go the archetypal Hawks subordinate to grounds a triple-double by halftime, with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Alexander-Walker with 30 and Kristaps Porzingis with 25 points were besides excellent.

Reversal from the bench

Although Jokić was the astir effectual player, the cardinal turning constituent happened portion helium was sitting connected the bench. Entering the past quarter, the Nuggets were losing 103:94, but they opened the 4th with a 23:3 streak. Cam Johnson deed 3 3-pointers, and the squad deed its archetypal 7 three-point shots successful the 4th quarter.

Jokić started the crippled poorly (2/13 shots), but finished it impressively; 13 shots from 26 attempts and 11 points successful the past 3 and a fractional minutes. Murray contributed with 23 points and 12 assists, portion Tim Hardaway Jr. added 17 points.

Nikola Jokić© TheHoopCentral / X / Fair Use

Hawks dominance early

Atlanta got disconnected to a large start, hitting 13 of their archetypal 15 shots. By the extremity of the archetypal quarter, they had 13 assists, a play grounds for the quarter, and a 41:23 lead. The vantage grew to 63:40 successful the 2nd quarter, but successful the extremity it was not capable for them to win.

Jokić is surely the main limb of his team, and it volition beryllium absorbing to travel the result of the concern and spot if the Serbian hoops subordinate tin beryllium arsenic ascendant successful the future. The Nuggets person superior ambitions for this season, hoping to spell each the mode and perchance instrumentality a large measurement towards the title.