By Edet Ikotidem
Nikola Jokić delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring a career-high 56 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the Denver Nuggets as they fell 113-122 to the Washington Wizards.
Despite his heroic effort, Jokić’s scoring feat became the second-highest in Denver Nuggets history, behind David Thompson’s legendary 73-point game in 1978.
The Wizards, who had not tasted victory since 30 October, ended their 16-game losing streak at the Capital One Arena with an inspired team performance. Shooting guard Jordan Poole led the charge with 39 points, including a career-high nine three-pointers, while Justin Champagnie contributed 23 points, and Jonas Valančiūnas recorded 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Washington pulled off the win despite missing key player Alexandre Sarr.
Also read: Paris 2024 Men’s Basketball: Top Performers For August 2
The Nuggets, traveling without injured stars Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (calf), struggled to capitalize on Jokić’s brilliance. The Serbian star not only scored 56 points but also added 16 rebounds and eight assists, further solidifying his case as one of the league’s elite. This performance comes just days after Jokić surpassed Magic Johnson for the third-most triple-doubles in NBA history with 139.
Denver’s loss places them ninth in the Western Conference with a 10-11 record, as their early-season struggles continue.
In other games, Evan Mobley set a career high with 41 points as the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 116-102. The Memphis Grizzlies edged past reigning champions Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons stunned the New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks secured a win against the Toronto Raptors on the road.
