Two NBA superstars had huge nights, but the one with the bigger night was on the losing side.
Nikola Jokic scored 61 points, the most in the NBA this season, but it wasn’t enough as the Nuggets fell 140-139 to the Timberwolves in double overtime Tuesday night in Denver.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit two of three free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining to spoil the Nuggets’ superstar’s big night.
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Curry, on the other hand, scored “just” 52 points in the Warriors’ 134-125 win over the Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn. earlier in the night.
As for Jokic, he also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, notching the third 60-point triple-double in NBA history.
Luka Doncic did it on Dec. 27, 2022 and James Harden did it on Jan. 30, 2018.
“The guy’s Superman,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “He’s on a whole other level, man. People say he’s not athletic, but not many guys can do what he does.”
Jokic also logged an impressive 52 minutes, 38 seconds and did not leave the court after halftime.
There’s not much time for rest for Jokic and the Nuggets. Denver plays Wednesday night against San Antonio.
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All he said he needs was a little break.
“I think we’re so used to this,” Jokic said. “Tomorrow, I’m not going to remember I played so many minutes.”
For Curry, it was redemption for the last time he played in Memphis in which he was held without a field and the Warriors lost by 51 points.
In this one, Curry was 16 of 31 from the field, making 12 of his 20 shots from distance, the dozen 3-pointers matching his season high.
“I had actually forgotten,” Curry, who scored 52 points in the first half, said when asked if the teams’ previous game was motivation. “I was just kind of more focused on how big this game was for us.”
Curry also made history in the Warriors’ win, passing Jerry West and moving into 25th place on the all-time NBA scorer’s list.
“I got a little emotional about that,” Curry said of passing West. “It was special. In his memory. What he meant to our organization, the league, to the world of basketball. … That’s the logo.”
— with AP
