Los 19.927 espectadores que abarrotaban el Ball Arena abandonaban el pabellón cabizbajos, rumiando la dolorosa derrota de los Nuggets ante los Wolves (139-140) tras dos agónicas prórrogas en un partido que duró tres horas y cuarto. Pero lo hicieron con la sensación de haber presenciaron una actuación histórica de la estrella de su equipo, Nikola Jokic, que seguramente no olvidarán en su vida.
Nikola Jokic intenta robar un balón a Jaden McDaniels.
El serbio firmó un partido descomunal, con un triple-doble estratosférico: 61 puntos (12/18 t2, 6/11 t3 y 19/24 tl), 11 rebotes, 10 asistencias y 2 robos en los 53 minutos que estuvo en cancha. Se dejó hasta la última gota de sudor y derramó hasta el último gramo de su infinito talento para tirar del carro de su equipo, pero no pudo evitar la derrota.
Primer jugador de la historia con al menos 60+10+10
Un tropiezo que no debe empañar sus formidables prestaciones. Para ponerlas en valor baste señalar que se convirtió en el primer jugador en la historia de la NBA en firmar un triple-doble con al menos 60 puntos, 10 rebotes, 10 asistencias y 5 triples. Y el primero que hacía un partido con 60 o más puntos en 50 o más minutos desde Michael Jordan.
Pero aún hay más motivos para glosar su hazaña. También se convirtió en el pívot con más triples-dobles de la historia en una misma temporada (31), superando al legendario Wilt Chamberlain (30). E igualó a otra leyenda, Shaquille O’Neal, como el pívot con más partidos de 50 puntos o más.
Nikola Jokic recibe falta de Jaylen Clark cuando intentaba lanzar a canasta.
Su producción ante los Wolves fue excelsa. Al descanso llevaba ya 23 puntos y 6 rebotes en 19 minutos, pero aún no había dicho su última palabra. En la reanudación se fue hasta los 49 puntos antes de la prórroga (112-112), en el primer tiempo extra anotó 7 de los 13 puntos de su equipo, mandando el encuentro a la segunda prórroga con dos tiros libres a 13,2 segundos del final. Y en esta pareció sentenciar con 5 puntos y un tiro libre (139-138).
Westbrook, de héroe a villano
Pero en los últimos segundos se produjo la locura. Westbrook robó un balón a Anthony Edwards tras un mal pase de este que parecía asegurar el triunfo de los Nuggets, pero el base falló el tiro, Alexander-Walker atrapó el rebote y lanzó a la desesperada a 0,1 segundos del final recibiendo falta del propio Westbrook. Un error imperdonable que concedió tres tiros libres al de los Wolves (tras solicitar el coach challenge su entrenador, Chris Finch), que convirtió los dos primeros para silenciar el Ball Arena.
Junto a Jokic, destacaron en Denver Aaron Gordon con 30 puntos (4/8 triples), 8 rebotes y 5 asistencias, y Christian Braun (18+12+4). Entre los tres anotaron 109 de los 139 puntos de los Nuggets, que acusaron la pobre aportación de sus suplentes: 14 puntos entre cuatro jugadores.
Más compensada estuvo la anotación en los Wolves, con 34 puntos (7/10 t2, 5/15 t3 y 5/7 tl), 10 rebotes y 8 asistencias de Anthony Edwards, 26 (4/8 triples), 9 rebotes y 7 asistencias de Julius Randle y 19+12 de Rudy Gobert. Además, su banquillo, con 40 puntos y 26+7+8 de Nickeil Alexander-Walker, vital en el triunfo, terminó desequilibrando la balanza en un partido que quedará para la historia, pese a la derrota, por la exhibición de Nikola Jokic.
This news was originally published on this post .
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