“We’re Not Quitters”: Nikola Jokic Glorifies Nuggets’ 22-Point Comeback to Sting Raptors

The Denver Nuggets were down by 22 in the second quarter. However, Nikola Jokic shouldered the team, boosting their chances and paving the way for a Jamal Murray takeover in the fourth. The guard scored 12 points off his 26 in the final stretch, further adding 12 assists to his overalls. Moreover, Jokic marked his 21st triple-double of the season with 35 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists.

The game demanded the Nuggets to master their mistakes. After giving 15 transition points in the 1st half, they put on the clamps, giving only 2 in the second half. As Nikola Jokic commended the team’s resilience and mettle to deal with adversities, he proudly quipped, “the whole crew fight today, we show the character that we’re not quitters.”

The Toronto Raptors entered the game shorthanded, playing with 5 key players. Their injury report had Scottie Barnes resting due to a left-hand fracture, Gary Trent Jr. because of a groin concern, Chris Boucher with knee issues, Immanuel Quickley due to hip issues and Jakob Poeltl due to surgery.

Regardless, the Toronto’s younger crew gave Nuggets a run for their money. As Jokic described, they consistently found lanes, and shot the ball well (51% from the field). Moreover, starting the game aggressively, they forced Jokic to assert his all-round presence. However, the Raptors matched Denver for points in the paint, scoring 66 near the basket.

Interestingly, Raptors came slightly intertwined with the Nuggets. Firstly, they faced Bruce Brown, an instrumental player in their title run last year. Moreover, it also posed Michael Porter Jr. against his younger brother, Jontay Porter, who managed to post a career-high 14 points

Nikola Jokic made history in the Raptors game

Apart from his 126th triple double of the career, Nikola Jokic also garnered 6 steals and 2 blocks in the win against the Raptors. With that, he marks an exclusive stat line which is never seen before in the NBA.

However, when talking about touching/crossing the 35/15/10 stat line alongside 5 steals, Jokic becomes the fourth player to do so after Terry Cummings, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and George McGinnis. \

With an array of accolades by his name, Jokic continues to make records in the NBA. With that, he enhances his legendary resume, and bolsters the chances of winning his third MVP title. Even though Joel Embiid’s sidelining automatically puts him on top of the MVP ladder, Jokic continues to pose performance that justify his candidacy.

Read More – Wholesome Chemistry Forces Nikola Jokic To Break Into Rare Emotion After Triumph vs Celtics

As the Nuggets continue their chase for the top seed in the Western Conference, they develop to a 9-1 record in the last 10 games. With that, they will now face the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs in their next matchups.