Jokic Posts a Triple-Double but Shoots 8-for-23: “I Took Good Shots”
Jokic records his fourth career triple-double in a season opener, Gordon drops 50 with 10 threes, but the Nuggets fall on the road to Curry and the Warriors
When a player scores 50 points with 10 threes on 11 attempts, even someone like Nikola Jokić – who’s seen his share of legendary nights – can’t help but smile.
It was a bittersweet smile, though, for the three-time MVP, who after the Nuggets’ 137–131 loss at the Chase Center spoke mostly about Aaron Gordon, the undeniable star of a game that, had it not ended in a Warriors victory, would already be part of Denver basketball lore.
He’s worked a lot on his shot over the past two seasons. He’s made huge progress. When you have a teammate hitting 10 threes in a game, everything becomes easier – even if we couldn’t pull off the win.
Nikola Jokic
Jokić did his part, notching his usual triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, trying to steady the Nuggets’ offense even as he struggled from the field, especially in the second half, when he scored only 5 points. Overall, he shot 8-for-23 from the field and 2-for-13 from three-point range.
I think I took good shots and didn’t force anything.
Nikola Jokic
Gordon made the impossible look easy: step-backs, contested shots, corner threes – everything was falling. Yet, Denver couldn’t close it out.
With 25 seconds remaining, his three-pointer to put the Nuggets up by three looked like the knockout blow. But Curry, with his 42 total points, answered like the champion he is – forcing overtime with a shot that’s impossible for half the league – but not for him.
In the end, it goes down as a loss – and a reminder: Gordon proved he can be much more than a supporting piece next to the two-time MVP. Nights like this aren’t easily forgotten, even if the scoreboard says the other team won.