Denver Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokic continued his spectacular season on Saturday with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists, albeit in a 122-113 loss to the Washington Wizards.
The 3-18 Wizards snapped their 16-game losing skid with the home win, led by Jordan Poole’s 39 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds (12-for-26, 9-for-20 from deep). Jonas Valanciunas put up 20 points and 12 rebounds and Justin Champagnie 23 points and 8 rebounds on 9-for-13.
The story of the game was Jokic though, the calm and collected force that plays the game with the slightest of emotion and makes it look so easy. Averaging 29.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 10.4 assists on 56 percent for the season, he shot 22-of-38 on Saturday. How appropriate, too, that he puts up the effort on Larry Bird’s birthday, someone who Jokic’s passing, pace, and command of the game evoke. In a game that has always had its share of uber-athletes, the subtleness of the player with high IQ who plays at his own speed is equally as effective.
Julian Strawther scored 18 points off the bench, and Russell Westbrook in a starting role put up 7 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Nuggets with the loss are now 11-10.
Ja Morant’s 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists (11-for-20, 4-for-6 from downtown) led the Memphis Grizzlies (16-8) past the Boston Celtics 127-121 in Boston for an impressive road win. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 27 points and 9 rebounds (11-for-19) for the Grizzlies.
Jrue Holiday was tops for the Celtics with 23 points, but was just 8-for-26 from the field and a putrid 4-for-17 from downtown. Jaylen Brown (10-for-14) scored 22 as did Payton Pritchard (7-for-12, 6-for-11 from deep), while Jayson Tatum was just 6-for-21 (1-of-10 from downtown) for 17 points. He did have 13 rebounds and 9 assists, and Kristaps Porzingis had 19 points and 8 rebounds but was just 6-for-17. Derrick White was also just 3-for-9. To say it was a bad shooting night for the 19-5 Celtics would be an understatement, as their starters shot a combined 35-for-87, just 40 percent. As a whole, the team was 42-for-105, and made just 18 of 60 (yes, sixty) three-point attempts.
In the early game on Saturday, Evan Mobley scored a career-best 41 (16-for-23, 6-for-8 from deep, 10 rebounds) to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers in their 116-102 win in Charlotte. Donovan Mitchell (6-for-12, 5-for-10 from distance) and Darius Garland (7-for-16) both put up 18. Jarrett Allen also had 10 rebounds. The Cavaliers are now 21-3.
For the 6-17 Hornets, Brandon Miller was the high man with 25, though he was just 7-for-21 from the field and 3-for-13 from deep. DaQuan Jeffries scored 17 off the bench on 7-for-11.
Around the League
Thunder 119 (18-5)
Pelicans 109 (5-19)
Gilgeous-Alexander: 31 PTS (10-for-18 FG)
Williams: 27 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST (10-for-19 FG, 4-for-9 3PT)
Murray: 26 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST (8-for-15 FG)
Jones: 24 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST (8-for-10 FG)
OKC: Outscored Pelicans 42-28 in 2nd quarter
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Pistons 120 (10-15)
Knicks 111 (14-9)
Cunningham: 29 PTS, 15 AST, 10 REB (9-for-17 FG, 5-for-8 3PT)
Beasley: 23 PTS (7-for-13 FG, 7-for-10 3PT)
Cunningham: 1st DET player in history to record triple-double at MSG
Brunson: 31 PTS, 10 AST (11-for-21 FG)
Bridges: 20 PTS (8-for-17 FG)
Towns: DNP (knee tendinitis)
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Mavericks 125 (16-8)
Raptors 118 (7-17)
Doncic: 30 PTS, 13 REB, 11 AST (9-for-20 FG, 6-for-13 3PT) - 2nd straight triple-double
Irving: 29 PTS, 6 REB (9-for-14 FG, 6-for-9 3PT)
Dick: 27 PTS (8-for-21 FG, 5-for-13 3PT)
Barnes: 19 PTS, 14 AST, 8 REB (8-for-17 FG, 3-for-7 3PT)
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Heat 121 (11-10)
Suns 111 (12-10)
Adebayo: 25 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST (9-for-16 FG)
Butler: 24 PTS, 7 REB (9-for-12 FG)
O’Neale: 27 PTS, 7 REB (8-for-15 FG, 5-for-8 3PT)
Booker: 21 PTS, 7 AST (6-for-16 FG, 1-for-6 3PT)
Beal: 15 PTS (5-for-18 FG, 0-for-6 3PT)
PHX: 1-8 this season without Kevin Durant (five losses by double digits)
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