Barbancourt
connoisseur’s rum
The Serbian player from Denver produced a historic performance to lead his team to victory against Charlotte.
Nikola Jokic, author of 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists, allowed the Nuggets to narrowly dominate (119-115) the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. The Serbian Denver franchise player, currently 3rd in the Western Conference, is the first player to record at least 40 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in an NBA game since the great Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.What he does every night is just amazing“, raved Nuggets coach Michael Malone after a complicated victory.
Denver, who led by 10 points after their three-pointer with seven minutes left, then saw the Hornets come back to within two points with 13 seconds remaining. Jokic then relieved his people with two successful free throws. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant and Golden State’s Jordan Poole also had a great night, both scoring 43 points to lead their teams to impressive wins. The Nets erased a 17-point halftime deficit to beat the Pistons (124-121) in Detroit while the defending champion Warriors earned just their third victory this season, 126-110 over the Raptors in Toronto.
Durant scored 26 points in the third period alone. Kyrie Irving added 38 points for the Nets. Durant says defense has been key to the Nets’ success. “We increased the pressure, increased the physique and were able to get back into the gameafter a complicated first game, he said. In Toronto, Poole posted a career-best 43 points with the Warriors. Teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green each scored 17 points as team star Stephen Curry missed out for the second time in a row with a left shoulder injury. Poole made five of the Warriors’ 18 three-pointers.
The Bulls take on water
In Boston, first NBA draft pick Paolo Banchero scored 31 points to lead Orlando to a 95-92 win — the Magic’s second win over the Celtics in three days. Second in the Eastern Conference behind Milwaukee, the Celtics were deprived of their top scorer, Jayson Tatum, absent for personal reasons. The Chicago Bulls took on the water 150-126 in Minnesota. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points to propel the New York Knicks to a seventh straight win, 109-106 over the Indiana Pacers. In Los Angeles, LeBron James scored 33 points in the Washington Lakers’ 119-117 win. What give a little air to his team in difficulty this season.
