Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic helped bolster his MVP case with a monster performance on Thursday against the Kings, recording 35 points along with season highs of 22 rebounds and 17 assists. His 22 rebounds matched a career high while his 17 assists were one shy of tying his best-ever mark. Everything seemed to be going right for the three-time MVP in Thursday’s game, which included him making a full-court heave, writes The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando.
“I think this is the best basketball of my life, that I have ever played. I’m feeling good out there,” Jokic said. “I’m in shape. The ball is going in. I’m feeling good. I think I can influence the game on different levels.”
The Nuggets have won 10 of their last 11 games and Jokic has put up a triple-double in each of his last five appearances. He’s now averaging a triple-double on the season, putting up 30.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game on a .564/.479/.814 shooting line.
“If no one’s ever done it … I’m just gonna say ‘historical,’” coach Michael Malone said, per The Sacramento Bee’s David Caraccio. “You think about his 10 years here, you think about the three MVPs, you think about the championship, the finals MVP — and this is the best season he’s ever had. And that’s saying a lot.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Thunder second-year guard Cason Wallace is known for his tremendous defensive intensity, but as Rylan Stiles of Thunder on SI writes, he has a second elite trait. Wallace is an effective cutter, ranking in the 94th percentile in the league while shooting 63% at the rim. “He has done a great job of embracing the system,” head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Early on it was a pretty narrow role offensively, it was dunker work, it was rolling, it was cutting. Now he is starting to find a little bit more with the ball in his hands.“
- The Timberwolves haven’t hit the same highs as last season after trading Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in the fall. In an interview with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, point guard Mike Conley spoke about the team’s budding chemistry and what it might take for Minnesota to turn it around, among other topics. “I think it took them probably a better part of half a season to figure out KAT and [Rudy Gobert] before I got here,” Conley said. “They went through growing pains, and we’re in that same scenario now with adding new people into our lineups. It takes a minute. It doesn’t happen overnight. We added Julius and Donte literally in training camp. It led to a lot of ripples through who we are, offensively and defensively. I think we’re making a lot of progress.“
- Trail Blazers rookie center Donovan Clingan made his return to the lineup on Friday against Charlotte (originally announced via the team on Twitter) after missing five games with an ankle sprain. He recorded four points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in his return.
Just give him the MVP already.
Calling it now: unless injuries happen, its gunna be Nuggets – Thunder WCF
“Cling-Kong” Clingan is a future Defensive POY and has a beastly work ethic! Can’t wait to see him, Sharpe (future MVP) and Scoot play and develop team chemistry. All three of them are unselfish team first players.
Unfortunately for Clingan Wembanyama will be getting quite a few DPOYs over the next few years. The only way anyone else is going to get one is voter fatigue or major injury that causes him to miss too many games.
The OP also claimed Sharpe is a future MVP. So not exactly making claims grounded in reality. And I like Sharpe a lot. But there is zero chance he is ever the MVP in this league.
True the league always decides who they promote and Sharpe is a conservative Christian so the league will never promote great character guys. Talent wise Sharpe has it all and is capable of superstardom! If you don’t believe it, you probably haven’t seen him enough. The Blazers have been holding him back and that’s all that’s been stopping him “league refs and his coaches” he should have been a stater since day one! They’ve been clearly on a mission to tank for a couple years now. Even Billups knows what he’s got with Sharpe but has had his hands tied with mandates to play “assets to trade” so they play Pay-scale offense.
What has Sharpe done ….. please tell us.
Hope there is enough room here lol.
Talent, upside, stats, wins …..
Learn to win. Then you might get our attention.
He’s played and convinced those who’ve actually seen him play “which the Blazers have made hard to see them last couple years” Try watching him, then his talent is obvious “he’s a special player” but he’s only playing half speed and passing since they’re tanking. I don’t think you understand the league, in the NCAA they outlawed dunking when Kareem played to equal the field, in the NBA they created Jordan rules to make it easier for him (because of endorsement revenue). Yes the league is helping whoever they want to endorse, but they’re missing out on Sharpe!
We will see, Cling-Kong has blocked Wemby though “this season” and it was a dunk attempt that left Wemby wondering how he did it. Clingan just needs PT. But Wemby will definitely be his biggest competition for it.
That Jokic quote is scary, dude’s on the cusp of caring.
He cares, always has. You don’t get as good as he is at anything without putting in a lot of work.
Minny spanked Denver. Amazing how good you look when the shots are falling. Knicks know that.
Randle had a good game. Happy for him. Not a big fan of Ant dominating the ball. He’s not a PG. Diilingham looks real good. He can be a huge addition. Don’t think Minny uses Randle right. Some of that is on him too. Still a work in progress. To me it’s a better situation in Minny for him. He should see that and adapt.