Nikola Jokic Stats Tonight: How did the Nuggets superstar fare against LA Lakers? (Feb. 22)
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets capped off a four-game homestand with a showdown against the LA Lakers on Saturday. After winning 127-102 in late November, the hosts looked to go up 2-0 in the season series. A victory by the Nuggets would push their winning streak to 10 and remain unbeaten in February.
Jokic did not attempt a shot in the first eight minutes of the first quarter. He was content to act as a playmaker and decoy as the Lakers consistently sent double teams to corral him. The reigning MVP went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line to finish with seven points, six rebounds and four assists in the opening period.
The Joker continued to take what the Lakers defense gave him. With LA determined to put multiple defenders on him, Jokic kept facilitating. The Lakers' defense had to be credited for forcing the Denver Nuggets to 11 first-half turnovers, three from the Serbian. LA led 63-54 at the end of two quarters.
Nikola Jokic went 0-for-1 in the third quarter but had five assists. The Joker continued to play facilitator in the face of LA's aggressive double teams. Denver did not make a dent in the Lakers' lead and trailed 96-87 entering the fourth quarter.
The Lakers drubbed the Nuggets in the fourth quarter. Jokic was held scoreless and committed two turnovers. He left with 4:15 remaining as his team faced a 117-97 deficit.
LA Lakers defense limited Nikola Jokic to under 15 points for the first time this month
The LA Lakers allowed Nikola Jokic to average 27.5 points per game in their previous five matchups. Denver went 5-0 during that stretch. On Saturday, they limited him to 12 points, the first time he failed to reach at least 15 points in February.
Before the Lakers shackled him, the least he scored this month was 26, which he tallied versus the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 8. Jokic's 12-point output against the Lakers is also the second-lowest this season. He had 10 points on Jan. 14 in the Nuggets' 118-99 win versus the Dallas Mavericks.
Nikola Jokic gets another crack at the Lakers defense on Mar. 14, his third encounter against LeBron James and Co.