DENVER – In big National Basketball Association (NBA) games, big players often step up to help their team clinch victory and then almost immediately move on, paying little significance to the result.
That was what Nikola Jokic was like on March 7, after he bagged his 20th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets held off the Boston Celtics 115-109 in their heavyweight NBA showdown.
The eagerly anticipated clash between the reigning NBA champions and Eastern Conference-leading Celtics lived up to the billing in a hard-fought duel in Denver.
Denver talisman Jokic led the Nuggets with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists while Jamal Murray finished with 19 points and Aaron Gordon 16.
The win gave Denver a clean sweep over Boston in their meetings this season. The Celtics, beaten by the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 5, suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since early November.
But Jokic brushed off suggestions that the victory could be a preview of the NBA Finals.
“We’re a long way from the Finals, my friend,” the Serb said in an on-court interview.
“But we had a really good energy tonight... we were in the game the whole time and our offence was really clicking today. We were taking a lot of the open shots and so we can be satisfied with that.”
Boston were left to reflect on a loss that came despite a brilliant 41-point performance from Jaylen Brown, who shot 16-of-29 from the field.
Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points but Jayson Tatum was restricted to 15 points.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said his team’s 12 turnovers had been the difference.
“When you play against another great team, those 10-12 possessions are super, super critical,” he said.
“I think Denver did a better job of taking advantage of those than we did.”
Despite their defeat, Boston remain on top of the Eastern Conference with a 48-14 record. Denver are third in the West at 43-20, one game back from leaders the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Elsewhere, Luka Doncic completed a triple-double to help the Dallas Mavericks edge past the Miami Heat 114-108 on their home court.
The Slovenian ace finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as Dallas staged a late rally to end their three-game losing streak.
“I’ve always said we can’t take that young man for granted,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of his star man.
“You’re seeing something as rare as a Picasso.”
Doncic received scoring support from Kyrie Irving with 23 points, while four other Dallas players made double figures.
Terry Rozier led Miami’s scoring with 27 points.
Dallas improved to 35-28 with the win to remain in play-off contention in the Western Conference.
In Indianapolis, the Timberwolves snatched a 113-111 win over the Indiana Pacers thanks to a 44-point performance from Anthony Edwards in a see-saw battle that saw the lead change hands 17 times.
Minnesota looked to be cruising after opening up a 17-point lead in the second quarter.
But the Pacers chipped away at the deficit to set up a tense finish after outscoring Minnesota 34-23 in the third quarter.
Edwards was the undisputed star of the show for Minnesota, unleashing a 25-foot three-pointer to give the Timberwolves a 108-105 lead with 1min 11sec remaining.
“His shot was next level,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, when asked about Edwards.
“Even when we double-teamed him, he got away from us. Look, he’s a great player and that’s why every second of every minute of every game matters.”
The Golden State Warriors, who rediscovered their best form in an emphatic win over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6, were unable to back that victory up in their home game with the Chicago Bulls.
DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic both scored 33 points apiece as the Bulls held off a late Warriors rally to claim a 125-122 win. AFP
