Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic show why dem still dey call am one of the best players for NBA as e score game-winning basket with just 11.5 seconds remain for match. The Nuggets beat Phoenix Suns 125-123 for Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday night, complete season sweep over Suns with 3-0 record.
Jokic finish with triple-double of 23 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists, make am im 29th triple-double for dis season. Even though im scoring no too high like before, Jokic step up for important moment when e matter pass. The three-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP prove say e still dey top form as Nuggets dey prepare for postseason.
Phoenix Suns dey try stop five-game losing streak before dis match, but dem still fall to Denver again. Devin Booker lead Suns with 22 points and eight assists, but im miss potential game-winning 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remain. Suns dey miss several key players like Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams, Haywood Highsmith and Amir Coffey due to injuries.
Nuggets end second quarter with strong 21-8 run to take 67-57 lead by halftime. Jalen Green contribute 14 points for Suns, but Phoenix shooting drop from 56% for first quarter to 27.3% for second quarter. Denver bench player Tim Hardaway Jr. add 18 points off bench to support Jokic performance.
Suns coach Jordan Ott talk about how dem plan defend Nuggets before match. “We go put plenty ball pressure,” Ott say. “Jokic na unique player wey dey crafty. If you overplay am, e go draw foul or pass you. But plenty of am dey off the ball. With Aaron Gordon for inside wey dey good against mismatches, and we get some small guards, na wetin we dey think about.”
For Suns side, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale return from injuries to play against Nuggets. Allen dey miss Suns last four games while O’Neale miss last three. Suns starting lineup include Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, Royce O’Neale and Oso Ighodaro. Nuggets start Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, former Suns forward Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic.
With dis win, Denver Nuggets improve to 45-28 record for season while Phoenix Suns drop to 40-33. Suns still dey cling to small hope for play-in tournament, but dem need win plenty matches remain. Denver go face slumping Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday while Suns go conclude im four-game homestand against Utah Jazz on March 28.
Jokic performance continue to make strong case for im as best player for NBA today. Even with players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama dey make noise for league, Jokic steady show say e still dey top. How e handle pressure go determine how far Nuggets go reach for 2026 postseason.
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