By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic dropped 40 points as the Denver Nuggets dominated the Portland Trail Blazers en route to a 146-117 victory in Ball Arena on Monday.
The Serbian superstar connected 15/22 from the field, including a seemingly impossible three-pointer from the corner midway through the first quarter.
“No, I don’t practice, my friend,” he mentioned during a postgame press conference, rejecting rehearsing the shot and instead giving credit to a team play.
😱 HOW DID JOKIC GET THIS TO FALL??
🎯Joker hit the triple from the deep corner fading out of bounds!
pic.twitter.com/jmilVTYHcA— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 11, 2025
“I did enjoy the moment for sure,” added the Joker.
The lead peaked at 32 points. A brilliant team display resulted in a seventh straight win in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season and the overall record improving to 35-19.
From his latest Player of the Week nod, the 29-year-old center from Sombor also put in eight assists, seven rebounds, three steals, and one block over 30 minutes. Croatian teammate Dario Saric did not play, and Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) stayed on the injury list for the team coached by Michael Malone.
For the visitors, Israeli Deni Avdija and Belgian Toumani Camara started. Avdija registered 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and one steal over 33 minutes, while Camara settled at six points, six rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block over 30 minutes. Lasting ten minutes off the bench, French Rayan Rupert grabbed three rebounds, but new French teammate Sidy Cissoko was on a G League assignment.
The Nuggets and Blazers meet again in Denver on Wednesday before heading into the All-Star break.