Aurélien CANOT, Media365, published on Monday 02 January 2023 at 08:08
In Sunday night’s NBA shock, Denver ended the winning streak of Boston, the league leader in the East, on his floor (123-111). The Nuggets retain command of the Western Conference, while Nikola Jokic, the two-time title MVP, was still monstrous (30 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists).
Celtics fans who were sure that even a Nikola Jokic at the top of his game couldn’t hold back their favorite team must have been disappointed on Sunday night. Indeed, there is nothing to do (or not much) to hope for lately against Denver and his “Djoker”. That was already the case at the end of 2022, and it restarted on the same basis from the beginning of this year 2023, which had reserved for us from January 1 a clash between Boston, first in the Eastern Conference, and Denver, his alter-ego in the West. The Celtics stayed on four consecutive wins, but that didn’t deter the Nuggets, easy winners on their floor of the only team, in the eyes of specialists capable of causing trouble for Jokic and his family. Again, that was a mistake.
Jokic still monstrous!
Led by his outgoing double MVP, still phenomenal (triple-double 30 points on 10 of 13 on shots including 2 of 2 on three points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists), the Western Conference leader held off his rival, who exploded from the start (37-28 in the first quarter), while Jokic in turn won his duel of potential MVPs at the expense of another valuable Jayson Tatum (25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) but way too clumsy (7 of 16 on shots, including 0 of 4 from three points), especially as he lost five balls, to appease the passion of the Nuggets and a Jokic in a state of grace. Winner of ten of his last twelve games, Denver isn’t just a hot favorite for the title. The Arizona franchise is probably THE big favorite for succession to the Golden State Warriors today, certainly more experienced. This display of strength on Sunday against one of the other major armadas in the league is testament to this.
