Nikola Jokic Praises Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “He’s Special”
Nikola Jokic orchestrates everything perfectly and records yet another triple-double, but in the end Denver must surrender to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A monstrous performance, his usual celestial playmaking and total control of the game’s rhythm. Nikola Jokic did everything he was supposed to do. The problem? On the other side was someone who decided it had to be his night, taking over the spotlight at the most crucial moment.
The Denver Nuggets fall 129-126 on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite a huge performance from their leader: 32 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, yet another triple-double in a collection that now seems endless.
The Serbian superstar controlled the game as he always does, deciding when to accelerate and when to punish the defense. Every double-team turned into an assist, every open space into a crucial basket.
Late in the game, it even seemed like he had restored order.
A three-pointer while drawing a foul, ice-cold execution and an extra free throw converted by Jamal Murray tied the game. It was a chaotic sequence reviewed by officials, but it gave Denver renewed confidence at the most delicate moment.
Then came the cold shower.
Thunder’s final possession, the defense set and pressure at its highest. Yet Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still managed to create the perfect shot for the win.
At that point, Aaron Gordon’s desperate last-second attempt failed to find the rim.
Game over.
Jokic Applauds Shai’s Record
After the game, Nikola Jokic acknowledged both the greatness of his opponent and the significance of the Canadian star’s achievement. 126 consecutive games with at least 20 points represent a level of consistency that is simply extraordinary. The streak began in November 2024 and has grown game after game into one of the most impressive storylines of the modern NBA.
People don’t understand how hard it is. Scoring 20 points for ten games is difficult, imagine doing it for more than a hundred. He’s a special player
Nikola Jokic
For Denver, the loss still leaves a solid performance against one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference, but also the feeling of having done almost everything right without managing to close it out.
When games come down to a single possession, sometimes one small detail makes the difference. This time, that detail wasn’t on the Nuggets’ side.