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Rio Olympics: Nuggets’ Jokic leads Serbia in Weds. #FIBAOQT play

By Drew Albee

Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) guards Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Jazz defeated the Nuggets 100-84. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) guards Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Jazz defeated the Nuggets 100-84. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) fouls Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first quarter at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) fouls Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first quarter at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Nikola Jokic for Serbia

Nikola Jokic and his Serbian countrymen have benefited from playing their qualifying tournament in Serbia’s capital city, Belgrade. As the highest-ranked of the six teams in their tournament, checking in at sixth in FIBA’s World Rank, they are favored to advance to Rio 2016 and were impressive in group play, going 2-0 with a 14.5 point margin of victory against Puerto Rico and Angola.

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In 21 minutes against Puerto Rico, Jokic’s effort earned “Game Hero” status, according to FIBA’s post-game report. He went for 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds and two assists against Puerto Rico on Monday.

In the 83-60 victory over Angola on Wednesday, Jokic was again stellar. While he didn’t earn recognition for his performance from FIBA this time around, he still played a vital role in Serbia’s comfortable victory.

Jokic poured in a game-high 17 points on 6/9 (66.7%) shooting in just 18 minutes. Jokic also grabbed a team-high six rebounds, dished out an assist, blocked a shot and registered a pair of steals on Wednesday. Jokic has been Serbia’s best player in the tournament so far and his play should help carry Serbia to qualify for the Olympics.

EuroHoops.net was also excited about Jokic’s splendid play:

Watch Jokic show great patience in the post, pump-fake two defenders into the air and finish the lay-up at 0:15 of this highlight clip.

Through two games in the Belgrade tournament, Jokic leads Serbia and is third in the entire tournament with 14.5 points per game. The Serbian sensation is also snagging a team-high 7.0 rebounds, dishing 1.5 assists and averaging one steal in less than 20 minutes per game.

Following their victory over Angola, Serbia sewed up first-place in Group A and will face the Czech Republic on Friday in the semi-finals. With a victory in the semis, Serbia would face the winner of the Latvia-Puerto Rico game in the finals on Saturday with a chance to advance to Rio 2016 on the line.

If Serbia hopes to advance to the Olympics, they will need the Nuggets’ big man, Jokic, to continue his splendid play in the upcoming days.

Let’s take a look at what to expect from our Nuggets participating in #FIBAOQT play the rest of this week.

Next: Nuggets in Upcoming #FIBAOQT Action

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