(VIDEO) Jokic picks up where he left off; the Bucks can’t do without Giannis
EL NUEVO DIARIOI, CHICAGO.- Serbian Nikola Jokic opened his 2023 season Sunday with a triple-double to go nine this year and 84 for his career as the Denver Nuggets win against the Boston Celtics on an NBA day in in in which Ja Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies by the hand and in which the Milwaukee Bucks, without the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, crashed against the Washington Wizards.
NUGGETS 123 – CELTIC 111
The NBA started the year with a clash between the leaders of the West, the Nuggets, and the leaders of the East, the Celtics, and Jokic led a solid performance at the Pepsi Center with thirty points, twelve rebounds and twelve assists.
The Nuggets’ success from the arc, with a brilliant 17-for-thirty, knocked down some Celtics coming to Denver on four-game hitting streak.
Nikola Jokic continues at an unstoppable pace, and today together with the Nuggets he defeated the Celtics, 1st in the East
30 points
12 rebounds
12 assists
1 robot
10/12 CT
2/2 T3🇷🇸 The Serbian has entered MVP mode and there is no stopping him #NBA
— Spin the ball 🏀 (@spinntheball) January 2, 2023
Jaylen Brown’s thirty points and Jayson Tatum’s 25 failed to stop a Nuggets who is already a solo leader in the West.
The game was halted for nearly half an hour with a basket problem at the Pepsi Center after Robert Griffin hung on the rim after an alley-oop.
BUCKS 95 – WIZARD 118
The Bucks can’t do without Antetokounmpo. The leader of the 2021 champions missed the first game of the year with a sore left knee and his team, also missing Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, sank against the Wizards.
Giannis had two monumental performances in his last two games, with double-doubles for 45 points and 22 rebounds in the loss to the Chicago Bulls and 43 points and twenty rebounds in the win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Bucks’ best was Bobby Portis, with 19 points. Spaniard Serge Ibaka contributed four points, two rebounds, two steals and one shot in 15.37 minutes on the court.
The Wizards gathered strength at the Fiserv Forum, boosted by Rai Hachimura’s 26 points, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis’ 22 points and five rebounds and Denis Avdija’s double-double of eleven points and twelve rebounds.
GRIZZLY 118 – RE 108
Ja Morant had 35 points, eight rebounds and five assists and led the Grizzlies to win against some of the Sacramento Kings who came into the date after adding some nice home wins against the Nuggets and Utah Jazz.
The entire Grizzlies lineup finished in double figures and Steven Adams dominated the field with eleven points and 23 rebounds, thirteen of which were offensive.
On the Kings, Domantas Sabonis contributed a double-double of 18 points and fourteen rebounds.
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— Classifications:
. Eastern Conference:
.1. Boston Celtics 26-11
.2. Brooklyn nets 24-12
.3. Milwaukee Bucks 23-13
.4. Cleveland Cavaliers 23-14
.5. Philadelphia 76ers 21-14
.6. Indiana Pacers 20-17
.7. Miami Heat 19-18
.8. New York Knicks 19-18
.9. Atlanta Falcons 17-19
10. Wizards of Washington 17-21
11. Chicago Bulls 16-20
12. Toronto Raptors 16-20
13. Orlando Magic 13-24
14. Charlotte Hornets 10-27
15.Detroit Pistons 10-29
. Western Conference:
.1. Denver Nuggets 24-12
.2. Memphis Grizzlies 23-13
.3. New Orleans Pelicans 23-13
.4. Dallas Mavericks 21-16
.5. Los Angeles Clippers 21-17
.6. Sacramento Kings 19-16
.7. Phoenix Suns 20-17
.8. Portland Trail Blazers 18-17
.9. Golden State Warriors 19-18
10.Utah Jazz 7-8pm
11Minnesota Timberwolves 16-21
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 15-21
13. Los Angeles Lakers 15-21
14. San Antonio Spurs 12-24
15.Houston Rockets 10-26