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Andrew LopezESPN
As Nikola Jokic sat on the podium for his postgame information convention, his Denver Nuggets teammate Bones Hyland briefly popped within the room to let his ideas be recognized.
“MVP! MVP! MVP!”
The feedback got here after the reigning MVP put up a wonderful case for why he ought to get one other within the Nuggets’ 138-130 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jokic completed with 46 factors, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 blocks and three steals — numbers no different participant has reached in a single recreation in NBA historical past since blocks and steals began being tracked in 1973-74. Within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation alone, Jokic had 30 factors on 10-of-11 taking pictures.
In response to ESPN Stats and Info analysis, Jokic is the primary participant within the final 25 seasons to have 30 factors or extra within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation whereas additionally taking pictures 90% from the sphere. The final participant to shoot that effectively whereas placing up that many factors within the fourth and time beyond regulation? Kobe Bryant who had 33 on 84.6% taking pictures towards the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 2007.
Jokic additionally joined Wilt Chamberlain as the one gamers in NBA historical past with a 45-point triple-double on 70% or higher taking pictures.
“Phenomenal. Completely different. He is simply completely different,” Nuggets ahead Aaron Gordon stated of Jokic’s efficiency. “That is simply not one thing that you just see typically. He took over, 30 factors within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation, that is simply sick. That was simply a tremendous recreation. He is a tremendous ballplayer.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated Jokic’s effort was “simply one more reason, instance, exhibition of why Nikola’s the MVP.”
This was the second time the Nuggets and Pelicans went to time beyond regulation this season, and it was the second time Jokic dominated the sport down the stretch to carry Denver to a victory. He scored 11 consecutive factors in time beyond regulation on Dec. 8 and completed with 39 factors, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.
“What a luxurious to have the MVP in an time beyond regulation recreation understanding you may simply play by him,” Malone stated. “They double-teamed him, Monte Morris makes a giant 3. It is simply such a confidence that you’ve as a result of you understand in an in depth recreation he is simply going to make the play repeatedly. For him to step up the way in which he did simply speaks to his greatness.”
Malone did not get to see Jokic’s late recreation spectacular, nevertheless. He was ejected after arguing a touring name towards Gordon with 1:06 left within the third quarter.
The Pelicans, who trailed by 21 within the first half, stormed again and took a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. That is when Jokic took over.
“My teammates had been on the lookout for me. I used to be making pictures and being aggressive. Only a actually good interval,” Jokic stated.
Jokic scored 15 of the ultimate 17 factors in regulation for Denver, serving to the Nuggets go on a 17-6 run within the last 3:08 to ship the sport to the additional interval. After the Pelicans took a 130-126 lead in time beyond regulation, the Nuggets scored the subsequent 10 factors — together with back-to-back possessions the place Jokic drilled a deep 3-pointer because the shot clock was winding down after which a 17-foot jumper within the lane with 28.3 left to place the sport away.
Jokic missed the earlier Nuggets’ recreation with a non-COVID sickness and he stated after the win that he did not eat for almost a day and a half.
“I simply felt just a little bit off. I simply had one thing, I felt like I wanted to throw up. It was only a bizarre feeling,” Jokic stated. “I felt weak. I felt not prepared. I did not need to go on the market and simply cheat and never carry out at that degree. If I can not give one hundred pc, if I am 80 % I am not going to go on the market.”
Jokic stated he struggled at occasions within the first half attempting to get again into the move of the sport, but it surely was evident he figured it out by the fourth quarter.
“This dude is unbelievable,” Gordon stated. “I do not say that about lots of people. I solely say that a couple of handful of individuals. This dude is unbelievable. He is the MVP. I imagine that. He is popping out evening in and evening out placing up ridiculous numbers and we’re successful. I do not know all people that votes on it however this man gotta be on the prime of the record.”