DENVER – Nikola Jokic made historical past the evening the Denver Nuggets clinched their fourth-consecutive playoff berth with a 122-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jokic turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to have 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. He had 35 factors, 16 rebounds, six assists, and 5 rebounds Thursday evening.
“Dude is admittedly cool at basketball,” mentioned fellow teammate Bones Hyland.
Jokic’s large evening got here after he by accident took Garen Jackson Jr.’s elbow to the fitting brow and temple which Draw blood on the opening minute.
After having to drag off the bench twice to cease the bleeding, Jokic wore a crimson headband for the remainder of the match as he helped the Nuggets (48-33) beat a shaky begin to keep away from being swept up within the season by the Grizzlies.
“The match’s finest participant is not even a contest,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone declared afterwards. “There are different nice gamers. I am not saying they are not nice gamers. However what Nikola Jokic has executed this 12 months – with this group – every thing we have needed to undergo, is unbelievable.
“He was good final 12 months and he is even higher this 12 months.”
Regardless of the absences of superstars Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets snatched sixth place within the Western Playoffs, avoiding the four-team play thanks to a different spectacular efficiency from the most effective participant.
They will nonetheless win the Northwest Division with a Sunday evening win over the Lakers and two losses by the hands of the Utah Jazz (48-32), which completed in opposition to Phoenix and Portland. The victory additionally introduced the Minnesota Timberwolves into play.
Aaron Gordon added 22 factors for Denver and Desmond Banny had 14 factors for the Grizzlies, who was popping out of an additional time loss in Utah on Wednesday evening, and had already secured the primary division title in its historical past together with securing the second seed within the West.
“I believe we have been enjoying good basketball till final evening in opposition to Utah. Tonight we did not have it,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned.
Jokic was the largest purpose.
“We have thrown him lots,” Jenkins mentioned. “He is a greater participant for a purpose. It is nearly unattainable to protect him. He’ll hit you on the within, on the skin, from the sport business. He performed at a extremely excessive degree tonight.”
The Grizzlies are hoping All-Star goalkeeper Ja Morant returns this weekend from a proper knee damage that has saved him out of motion since March 18.
Malone mentioned he was involved after seeing a bloodied Jokic in such a pivotal sport for Denver.
“My first thought was Steve Nash in that interlude they usually could not cease the bleeding,” Malone mentioned. And I say, ‘Of all of the toys, Nikola will get a really innocuous elbow, an unintentional elbow in his head and he is bleeding.’
I say, ‘Not tonight.’ “
Malone mentioned he pleaded along with his coaches to do every thing they may to cease the blood movement.
“Like, deliver a staple gun right here,” Malone mentioned. “It lastly stopped and Nicolas did a greater job in the most effective participant checklist.”
Jokic mentioned he is not going to proceed to put on the headscarf. This look will likely be left to LeBron James.
“No, I look nice,” mentioned Jokic. “I am unable to allow you to guys see me twice like that.”
Jokic agreed he had a greater season than final, however mentioned there are 20 superstars on this league and he isn’t pushing for an additional MVP award.
He mentioned, “If that is sufficient, that is sufficient… No, you possibly can’t management that.”
Jokic bought a toy ball from Nuggets as a memento from his date evening however joked that coaches is perhaps promoting his bloody headband on eBay.
The Related Press contributed to this story.
