Every thing has been working for Denver Nuggets celebrity Nikola Jokic.
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Jokic has rattled off 5 triple-doubles in a row, and he’ll go for a sixth straight on Saturday when Denver heads to Minneapolis for a gathering with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Historical past was made on Thursday night time, when Jokic piled up 35 factors, 22 rebounds and 17 assists in a 132-123 victory over the Sacramento Kings to affix Wilt Chamberlain as the one gamers in league historical past to file not less than 35 factors, 20 boards and 15 assists in a single recreation.
Jokic, a three-time MVP, has averaged 23.2 factors, 15.0 rebounds and 11.4 assists per recreation throughout his triple-double streak.
“I think this is the best basketball of my life,” Jokic mentioned. “I’m feeling good out there. I’m in shape. The ball is going in. … I think I can influence the game on different levels.”
Nonetheless, Jokic does not wish to take all of the credit score for Denver’s current success. He is been grateful for what Russell Westbrook has dropped at the desk, because the veteran guard has been a seamless match within the beginning lineup after coming off the bench initially of the season.
“I think he’s a great veteran, a great leader,” Jokic mentioned of Westbrook. “Great influence on the young guys.”
Westbrook has averaged 15.9 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists over the previous 9 video games.
Minnesota has been counting on a veteran guard of its personal in Mike Conley, who has been preserving the Timberwolves level-headed all through the course of an up-and-down first half of the season.
Conley is assured that Minnesota is beginning to flip a nook and has been emphasizing the necessity to stick collectively when adversity comes the Timberwolves’ manner.
“They know how much I care about the guys and just trying to make sure this team doesn’t flip the other way,” Conley mentioned. “Because I’ve been on teams where we had rocky starts and be frustrated and expectations and things don’t go your way, teams start to splinter and you start to break up.
“This workforce is simply too good and too gifted to try this. Simply making an attempt to maintain the blokes collectively and constructive. Hopefully it will work out.”
Minnesota edged the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 on Wednesday to snap a modest two-game skid. Jaden McDaniels broke out for 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting to lead the Timberwolves in the victory, while Anthony Edwards chipped in 21 points and Conley finished with 18 points and eight assists.
“He is been taking part in his finest basketball the final couple weeks,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said of McDaniels. “He did it in all alternative ways. Tremendous lively on the glass. He made massive pictures on the finish of the clock, completed nicely across the hoop . Guarded his tail off, as he at all times does.”
Saturday marks the second assembly of the season between the groups. The Timberwolves topped Denver 119-116 on Nov. 1 behind 29 factors from Edwards.
Minnesota can be with out Donte DiVincenzo, who missed the previous 4 video games and can be out not less than three extra weeks with a toe damage.
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