Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Scores 25, Nearly Upsets Team USA
By Tim Hart
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic led all players with 25 points, and nearly brought Team Serbia to an OT showdown against team USA.
Nikola Jokic was at the top of his game against team USA in their match-up on Friday, August 12th. He provided a steady offensive push, particularly in the late second half, that helped the Serbian National Team fight back from an early 25-3 deficit. Team Serbia had a chance to force OT, with an open three-point look from Bogdan Bogdanovic bouncing off the rim in the final moments of the game. Unable to tie the game, the Serbs ultimately fell to Team USA 91-94.
For Nuggets fans, the game was nearly perfect. Denver’s starting center was the undoubted standout, and personally helped make the game a nail-biter; but, he did not become the villain that stole a win from Team USA.
Plenty have acknowledged Jokic as a skilled big-man with serious NBA potential, as he finished 3rd in the voting for 2015-16 rookie of the year. His performance on the world-stage backed that up, with his particularly impressive play against the best team in the tournament.
Nikola Jokic has likely landed a few more fans, and might be able to bring a spark of momentum to the Denver Nuggets this upcoming season, as he has officially proven himself as a player capable of leading an underdog-team through a fight against titans.
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Jokic led all players in scoring with 25 points. He was hot off the bench, shooting nearly 75% on 11-15 FGA. He also had 100% accuracy from down-town, hitting two three-pointers in the second half, one of which brought Team Serbia to within 5 points of team USA with 3 min 15 sec left in the 4th quarter.
After that three, he scored 4 more points to keep the gap at 5, and also secured the defensive rebound that led to Team Serbia to hitting the free-throws that made it a 3 point game. He came out on top of his match-up against physical defender Draymond Green for most of the 4th quarter, but ultimately came up just short. Jokic would also end the game with a team-high 6 rebounds, alongside 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in his 30 minutes of play off the bench.
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As Jokic led the Serbs with 25 points, he scored 10 more than the top-scoring American, Kyrie Irving, who had just 15 points. But, despite Nikola Jokic’s commendable play, Team USA narrowly avoided the loss, and looks to continue their winning streak; however, they must be more alert now than ever before, as Teams Australia and now Serbia have both shown that even the best aren’t invincible, and no win is to be taken for granted.
