Nikola Jokic continues to find new ways to help the Nuggets win games
Feb 15, 2022, 6:48 AM
Just about the time we think you have seen every conceivable way Nikola Jokic can win a game for the Nuggets, we see something like we saw Saturday night in Toronto.
This year alone, there have been a staggering number of ways Jokic has won a game for his team. We aren’t talking his career here; we are talking just this season.
This season alone, here is the list of the game winning accomplishments.
Hitting a three-pointer in the last 10 seconds.
Making two free throws with three seconds to go.
Getting an offensive rebound and kick out for a teammate to hit a 17-footer for the win.
Throwing a beautiful pass, tossing the basketball about 40 feet, on a dime, to a wide-open teammate who hit the three to win the game.
Now, we can add another.
On Saturday night in Toronto, with the Raptors eight-game winning streak on the line, Jokic was, well, Jokic. With the Nuggets up one and the Raptors with the ball and a chance to win it with a hoop, it wasn’t a basket or a free throw or a great pass or a big rebound that was needed to seal this win. It was defense. A blocked shot to be specific. And that’s exactly what The Joker did.
He ended up with a line of 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. And throw in two blocks, the second of which was gigantic. It prevented the Raptors from scoring in the last moment of the game and preserved a 110-109 victory.
Being able to follow the career of Nikola Jokic has been fascinating. He came into the league just trying to figure out who he was, whether or not he was really an NBA-caliber player. Once he figured out that he was here to stay, he slowly started establishing his own incredible game. It almost seemed like he discovered talents he never knew he had.
When he developed his game into something incredibly special, he told the media his mindset was changing along with his game. No longer was he establishing himself. He had his All-Star appearances. He had his max contract. He was an NBA star. Now, it was all about winning. And wow, does that attitude ever show on the basketball court.
He will do whatever it takes to win. And if that means a blocked shot in a game north of the border, Nikola Jokic is gonna do it.
