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Nikola Jokić was a key figure in the victory of the Denver Nuggets against the Sacramento Kings, who failed to stop the great Serbian center, despite the fact that they had a ten-point advantage at halftime, and even nine after the third quarter. Jokić, together with Russell Westbrook and Jamal Murray, turned the tide of the game, which brought another triumph to his team this season. With this, the Nuggets achieved their 40th victory, which puts them in a great position before the upcoming playoffs.
Michael Malone on the fight for second position
Denver's coach, Michael Malone, praised his team's reaction in the second half. Although he admitted that the victory was not "pretty", Malone stressed that it was crucial and that it brings additional security to the team, which continues its fight for the second position before the playoffs.
"The way they defended Nikola shouldn't have affected our defense, but in this match it had a big impact. They shot 62 percent and scored 42 points in the first quarter. That shouldn't happen, especially now that the season is in its final phase. However, I like how we responded in the second half. This was a very important victory. It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it," Malone said.
Michael Malone was proud of Jokic, who showed that injuries cannot stand in his way. The Serb is a true example that sometimes injuries are not an obstacle, but of course the most important thing is that he stays healthy and continues to give these kinds of performances.
"He's the anchor of our defense. Our offense runs through him, he's our best rebounder, and what he does for the team is invaluable. We see it every day, and what's special is his ability to be present and ready even when he's not in the best shape. I told the players at halftime: 'Guys, get used to this. We're going to see a lot more of this in the last 20 games,'" concluded Malone, again expressing his gratitude for the exceptional dedication of his best player.
English (US)