The Denver Nuggets opened their NBA tournament season with a bang, as Nikola Jokic led the team to a 125-114 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Jokic was the star of the night, recording 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. This marked the first time in his career that he has scored 30 or more points in an NBA tournament game.
Jokic was on fire from the opening tip, scoring 15 points in the first quarter alone. He continued to dominate throughout the game, shooting 12-of-20 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. His performance was instrumental in helping the Nuggets take control of the game early and never look back.
The Mavericks had no answer for Jokic’s dominance, as he outplayed their star player, Luka Doncic. Doncic finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with Jokic’s performance. The Nuggets also got great contributions from Jamal Murray (19 points) and Will Barton (17 points).
The Nuggets’ victory was a statement win to open the tournament, and it was made possible by Jokic’s incredible performance. He is quickly becoming one of the best players in the NBA, and his performance against the Mavericks showed why. If he can continue to play at this level, the Nuggets will be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.
