By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic delivered another masterclass at Ball Arena, producing 25 points on 10/20 field goals to power the Denver Nuggets to a commanding 116-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
The 31-year-old Sombor native was a dominant force throughout his 36 minutes, supplementing his scoring with 15 rebounds, eight assists, and a steal. While Jokic finished just two assists shy of recording his fifth consecutive triple-double in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, his efficiency, which included four successful three-pointers, propelled the team coached by David Adelman to 48-28 with its sixth straight win.
The Nuggets secured the win despite a thinning rotation. Forward Aaron Gordon was a late scratch due to calf soreness, adding to a season where he has already missed 44 games. The injury woes deepened during play as Spencer Jones exited with hamstring tightness and Cameron Johnson was forced to the locker room with a rib injury. Amidst these absences, Lithuanian veteran Jonas Valanciunas made a brief appearance after five games on the bench, recording one assist and one rebound in five minutes without attempting a shot.
For the shorthanded Warriors, who remain without Stephen Curry, Latvian standout Kristaps Porzingis provided a significant offensive spark. The 30-year-old starter shared the team-high of 23 points with Brandin Podziemski, shooting an efficient 8/14 from the floor. The Liepaja native was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all five of his three-point attempts, and contributed three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 29 minutes.
Golden State also saw limited minutes from their European bench depth. However, Quinten Post exited Sunday’s game for the locker room due to an apparent right lower leg injury. Before the exit, the Dutch center managed two points and two rebounds across nine total minutes while already dealing with a right foot issue. Meanwhile, Dutch Malevy Leons scored two points and Turkish Omer Yurtseven grabbed two rebounds.
With the loss, the team coached by Steve Kerr officially clinched a 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament spot, a postseason fate they now share with the Portland Trail Blazers. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics officially clinched their spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
The contest grew heated in the second quarter following an exchange between Jamal Murray and LJ Cryer, leading to an altercation involving Zeke Nnaji, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II. Although the visitors utilized a 19-2 run to lead by 13 in the first half, the home side’s 40-21 explosion in the third quarter, led by 10 points from Tim Hardaway Jr., flipped the momentum permanently.
Game recognize game 🙌🏻
“He’s probably my favorite player to watch, and I think he’s the best player in the world.”
Caitlin Clark with some high praise for Nikola Jokić 🗣 pic.twitter.com/p4rhkFPR8j
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 30, 2026
Watching the action from the broadcast booth, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark offered high praise for Denver’s Jokic, stating on NBC, “He’s probably my favorite player to watch and I think he’s the best player in the world.” Her appearance as an analyst follows her recent viral turn as a photographer during a Los Angeles Lakers game alongside Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic.