Nikola Jokic shows love to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after loss to Thunder

The Denver Nuggets noticed their six-game profitable streak snapped by the hands of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Friday, Dec. 29, by a rating of 119-93. Whereas the Nuggets seem to have turned issues up of late and are wholesome whereas additionally wanting like one of many NBA’s most dominant groups, a ton of credit score ought to go to this Thunder group.

Not solely did Oklahoma Metropolis take down the (now) 23-11 Nuggets, however it did so in Denver, the place Nikola Jokic and firm have been 13-2 this season getting into the matchup. The victory got here behind a monster efficiency from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 40 factors with 4 rebounds and three assists whereas taking pictures 14-20 from the sector. After the massive displaying, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic gave the final word reward to the 25-year-old guard.

“He is an issue on this league. The advantage of him is he desires to win. He would not care about numbers,” Jokic stated, per Ryan Blackburn of Mile High Sports. “He desires to win, and I feel that is the perfect factor about him.”

Jokic as soon as once more flirted with a triple-double himself, scoring 19 factors with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, however Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection compelled him into an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. Gilgeous-Alexander was one among six Thunder gamers to file a steal, whereas Chet Holmgren led a gaggle of seven gamers with at the least one block, because the Rookie of the Yr candidate blocked two pictures himself.