DENVER — Nikola JokicMade history that night Denver NuggetsA 122-109 win over the opposition secured a fourth consecutive playoff berth Memphis Grizzlies.
Jokic became the NBA’s first player to have 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, as well as 500 assists per season. He scored 35 points, had 16 rebounds, six assists, and made five steals on Thursday night.
“Dude’s really great at basketball,” says teammate Bones Hyland said.
Jokic had an accidently elbowed his way to the big night. Jaren Jackson Jr. To the right forehead and temple drew bloodIn the first minute.
Jokic wore a red hairband for the rest of the game after he had to leave the bench twice in order to stop the bleeding. This helped the Nuggets (46-33) overcome a rocky start to avoid a sweep by Grizzlies.
Michael Malone, Nuggets coach declared afterward that “the MVP is not even a competition.” “There are many great players. They’re great players. Nikola Jokic is amazing for this team and all that they’ve been through.
“He was great last year, and he’s even more this year.”
Even with missing stars Jamal MurrayAnd Michael Porter JrThe Nuggets secured a top-six position in the Western Conference playoffs. They avoided the four-team playin due to another exceptional performance by the reigning MVP.
They still have a chance to win the Northwest Division if they win Sunday against the Lakers or two losses by the Thunder. Utah Jazz(48-32), who lose to Phoenix and Portland.
Aaron GordonDenver was awarded 22 more points Desmond Bane14 points were scored by the Grizzlies who, coming off an overtime defeat at Utah, had already won the first division title and the second seed for the West.
The Grizzlies hope to get All-Star guard Ja MorantThis weekend, he was able to return from a right-leg injury that had kept him sidelined since March 18.
Malone stated that he was worried after seeing Jokic get so badly injured in a crucial game for Denver.
Malone said, “My first thought when I saw Steve Nash’s playoff series was that they couldn’t stop his bleeding.” “And I’m stating, “Of all games Nikola gets a very benign elbow, an accidental elbow to the head, and is bleeding.”
“I’m saying, ‘Not tonight.”
Malone claimed that he asked his trainers to do everything they could to stop the blood from flowing.
Malone stated, “Like, get out a staple gun here.” Nikola gave another MVP performance and it stopped.
While making NBA history.
The Associated Press contributed to the reporting.