Jokic triple-double in 26 minutes as Denver beats Chicago
Denver's Serbian center posted 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a preseason game at Ball Arena, and the Nuggets beat Chicago 133-128 after trailing by 15.
In the closing minutes of the preseason game at Ball Arena, with a timeout under way, Nikola Jokic was arranging his teammates on the floor. That was how the night ended for the Serbian center, who had completed a triple-double in just three quarters.
The Denver Nuggets beat Chicago 133-128 in an NBA preseason game, even though they trailed by as many as 15 points at one stage. Jokic played 26 minutes and recorded 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, plus one block.
He shot 8 of 12 from the field, including one three-pointer. The math shows where the rest came from: eight made shots, one of them worth three points, add up to 17, so the other five points came from the free-throw line.
How did Denver erase a 15-point deficit?
Denver spent most of the game trailing and only made up the gap in the second half. The third quarter was decisive: Jokic led his team on a run that turned the game around.
Aaron Gordon stood out alongside him, contributing 25 points to the win. For Chicago, reserve Leonard Miller was the top scorer with 26 points, and Matas Buzelis added 13 points and six rebounds.
What did Jokic say after the game?
According to American media reports, Jokic told reporters it was a challenge, but that he felt the team did a good job, even though there is plenty of room to improve. He added: “We just want to get better. Both offensively and defensively. To get some things to become habit,” Jokic said.
He also spoke about the younger players on the roster:
“I love to play, I love everything about basketball. Especially when the younger guys play, it’s nice to see how they learn, how much they care, it’s simply a joy.”
Those words came from a man who, in the closing minutes of the game, during a timeout, was arranging his teammates on the floor.
What comes next for Denver?
Coach David Adelman confirmed that the starting lineup will play in at least one of the two remaining preseason games, against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The purpose is to build chemistry before the regular season begins. Denver plays the first of those two games in the coming days.
Chicago thus lost a game in which it had led by 15 at one point, despite 26 points from reserve Miller. The Nuggets open their season on October 23 at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and two more tune-ups await them until then.
