Is Nikola Jokic once again the favorite to get what would be his third consecutive MVP? If not, you’re not far from it. The Serbian center has started the season calmly, but as he progresses he is signing some really crazy games. Tonight, as a Christmas present, he left us a triple double of 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists to beat Phoenix in overtime. Is what he’s doing normal? We strongly doubt it.
With his third triple-double in his last four games, Jokic led his team to a hard-fought victory against the Suns. It was a duel in the Western Conference elite and was noticed at all times. The locals got off to a better start, but Phoenix fought back and were up to a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter. Those receipts were of little use, as Michael Malone’s boys returned to lead the game to a tight finish that needed extra time to discern who ended up smiling.
The reality is that Arizona was close to winning. With 15 seconds left they were leading by one point and had two free throws. DeAndre Ayton, who would go on to finish with a fantastic double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds, missed one of his shots before seeing Jamal Murray force overtime. In the extra five minutes Denver was better and added its fourth straight win. Jokic shined. Denver won.
The Nuggets are in for a big time, and not just for Jokic, but for a luxury accompaniment as well. Jamal Murray had 26 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Aaron Gordon had a double-double of 28 points and 13 rebounds, including a wild dunk in overtime. The Colorado organization looks poised to be a favorite for the 2023 ring.
Booker, ephemeral return
After missing three straight games with a groin injury, Devin Booker returned for Christmas to the delight of Suns fans. Well, that was the plan, as it all quickly went awry seeing how the shooting guard only lasted four minutes on the court… Maybe he pushed to be with his teammates on such a special night, but the bet didn’t it went well for him.
In the Phoenix star’s absence, it was Landry Shamet who took over. The escort was up to 31 points off the bench on 10-of-20 shooting from the field. It was a great performance, but not enough to keep the Arizonans from going down for a third straight night.
(Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
