"It’s easy to be a general after a war" - Nikola Jokic deflects praise, credits Nuggets' collective effort in win over Heat
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 135-122 on Friday. Jokic had another masterful performance, notching up his fourth triple-double of the season.
Due to his astounding figures, many praised the "Joker" for once again putting the Nuggets on his back. But Jokic thinks otherwise as he gave his teammates the praise they deserved.
“It’s easy to be a general after a war,” Jokic said after the game.
While Jokic may have put up a triple-double performance, he wasn't kidding about his teammates deserving recognition. Four other Nuggets players - Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun and Peyton Watson - all stepped up to the occasion to help fend off the Heat.
Nuggets vs Heat recap: Nikola Jokic overwhelms Miami
The Denver Nuggets hosted the Miami Heat on Friday. It was undoubtedly a must-see matchup between the two teams, considering how they had faced off in the 2023 NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokic proved once again why he's deserving of the MVP award, notching up a huge triple-double outing against the Heat. The "Joker" added a masterful 30 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds, and two steals with 84.6% accuracy from the field. The Serbian giant was an unstoppable force for the Nuggets.
While Jokic's star shone the brightest, four other Nuggets players also did fantastic jobs helping the big man. Jamal Murray was the second-best scorer for the team with 28 points and also added six assists and four rebounds, shooting 52.9%.
Michael Porter Jr. had an all-around performance for Denver, providing both solid offense and defense. He added 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
Then there was Christian Braun, who efficiently shot the ball for the Nuggets. He scored 21 points, shooting 75% from beyond the arc and 77.7% overall. Finally, the other Nuggets player who was in double-scoring figures was Peyton Watson, who added 16 points and played solid defense.
Given the way the Denver Nuggets performed, it's clear why they beat the Miami Heat, for whom seven players were in double-scoring figures. Everyone stepped up to the occasion after Jimmy Butler went out due to an ankle injury suffered after seven minutes of play.
Nikola Jokic will now prepare to face his good friend Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Fans could be in for a treat as Jokic and Doncic are capable of notching up triple-doubles.