Nikola Jokic’s late cross-court heave seals Nuggets’ win over Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Jordan Poole put the Golden State Warriors down only one level with 14 seconds remaining after stealing the ball off a lazy Denver Nuggets cross and laying it again in.

However only a break up second later, because the Warriors have been nonetheless getting again in transition, Nikola Jokic inbounded the ball with a cross-court heave — one thing Jokic admitted was “a danger” after the sport.

It was one he was greater than prepared to take after Bones Hyland turned the ball over, resulting in Poole’s bucket, and Jokic noticed nothing however a swarm of Warriors jerseys.

“My guys needed to be open,” Jokic stated.

So he chucked the ball 85 ft to discover a wide-opened Bruce Brown, who full the play with a dunk. That — and a pair of free throws a number of seconds later — sealed the Nuggets’ 128-123 win on Friday night time.

Draymond Inexperienced stated the Warriors weren’t precisely caught sleeping on Jokic’s cross, however there was a lapse in communication. Often, the Warriors need their middle again beneath the opposite basket, however on this situation the middle was Inexperienced, and he was trapping.

“It is an unfamiliar place for our guards. Guards do not defend the basket,” Inexperienced stated. “That is one thing I might have communicated. I ought to have communicated that we obtained to ensure we now have a person again, and that is one thing we will study from.”

Jokic completed the sport with 26 factors on 7-of-13 taking pictures, 12 rebounds and 10 assists — his 77th profession triple-double. Jokic now has the second-most triple-doubles by a middle in NBA historical past behind simply Wilt Chamberlain (78).

Jokic scored or assisted on 50 Denver factors, but it surely was his passing that stood out above his different stats.

“Actually, we now have eight years collectively now and [nothing surprises me],” Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated. “So many large video games, so many moments when he is made the massive play, the suitable play and a game-changing sort of play … his IQ is off the charts. He is on the market taking part in chess and a variety of different guys are taking part in checkers.”

Towards the Warriors, the Nuggets scored 24 factors off Jokic’s passes on 10-of-15 taking pictures, together with 4-of-7 from three. Three of his 10 assists got here in transition and 6 of them led to open appears.

5 totally different teammates scored off his passes, with Kentavious Caldwell Pope and Bruce Brown benefiting probably the most.

Caldwell-Pope shot 3-of-5 off Jokic’s passes, whereas Brown went an ideal 4-of-4 together with the game-winning dunk.

Earlier than the sport, Malone spoke on the necessity for his workforce to construct chemistry because the Nuggets welcomed eight new gamers, together with Caldwell-Pope and Brown, and reintegrated Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.

With that in thoughts, Malone has been difficult Jokic to take his management to the following degree by not simply taking part in by instance, however by being vocal and instructing.

Three of 4 occasions on Friday, Malone noticed Jokic seize the whiteboard throughout timeouts and method his new and youthful teammates, explaining the place he desires them on performs.

“In case you ask Bruce and Kenny Pope, from afar they most likely admired Jokic’s passing from taking part in in opposition to him. Nevertheless it’s totally different watching than now you are with him,” Malone stated. “He makes the sport really easy, however you must be prepared.”

The Nuggets headed into halftime having scored 70 factors and up 18 on Golden State, however a patented Warriors third-quarter rush to pair with a powerful fourth put them inside eight with about 5 minutes to go.

Stephen Curry completed with 34 factors on 10-of-22 taking pictures, whereas Andrew Wiggins added 23 factors and eight rebounds and Draymond Inexperienced had 13 factors and 9 assists.

However Denver outscored the Warriors 9-4 in clutch time to seal their victory.

“Our second quarter was certainly one of our greatest quarters in a very long time in opposition to a top quality opponent,” Malone stated. “However down the stretch, there are such a lot of issues we have to clear up … Nevertheless it’s a hell of a win. We will savor it for about two and a half hours on the aircraft, after which tomorrow night time we now have our house opener.”