CNN
—
More like a quarterback pass than a three-pointer, Nikola Jokić’s barely believable 66-foot shot pretty much sums up his historic performance in the Denver Nuggets’ 132-123 win over the Sacramento Kings.
The outrageous moment came late in the third quarter when Jokić got the ball with 1.7 seconds left and fired a one-handed buzzer-beater almost the length of the court.
As members of the home crowd leapt to their feet, the three-time MVP seemed hardly surprised or impressed by the daring skill, nonchalantly greeting his teammates before leaving the court.
“When you play, you want to make every shot,” Jokić told reporters after Thursday’s match. “I took it to do it and I did it. It was a lucky shot of course, it’s not really a high percentage shot.
“It’s three points,” he added. “I think it will help us.”
Jokić finished the game with 35 points, 22 rebounds and 17 assists, completing his fifth consecutive triple-double before the fourth quarter. Of his league-leading 20 triple-doubles this season, 14 came before the closing period.
It was also only the second time in NBA history that a player recorded a 35-20-15 game after Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.
“Historic” is how Nuggets coach Michael Malone described Jokić’s performance, adding: “These numbers translate into wins. These are not empty statistics, these are not numbers hollow.
“You think about his 10 years here, you think about the three MVPs, you think about the championship, the Finals MVP, and this is the best season he’s ever had. And that says a lot – it’s just continued greatness.
With the victory against the Kings (23-21), Denver improved to 12-3 over the last 15 games and improved to 28-16 on the season.
A 40-point first quarter gave the Nuggets a comfortable lead at Ball Arena. Their lead had grown to 22 points at halftime and 25 points by the end of the third after Jokić hit his spectacular buzzer-beater.
The Kings, led by DeMar DeRozan with 24 points and Domantas Sabonis with 23 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, rallied late in the game but could only narrow the gap to nine.
Every Nuggets starter contributed at least 18 points, but it was Jokić who stole the show, shooting 12 of 19 from the floor.
The Nuggets now travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday afternoon while the Kings remain on the road, taking on the New York Knicks in the evening.