The Denver Nuggets clearly won the duel of the currently best NBA teams with the Milwaukee Bucks. Nikola Jokic outperformed Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Phoenix Suns have recovered from their last three defeats. There were best values for New Orleans and Atlanta. The NBA on Sunday morning.
Pushed through against the Bucks: Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
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Denver vs. Milwaukee, West leaders vs. East leaders, Nikola Jokic vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo – the two players who have won the past four MVP awards. In the end, Jokic was clearly ahead with the nuggets at 129:106 (63:66). “That was impressive,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone after the game after “great defense against a very good attacking team” delivered a real top performance.
The game was balanced at first, with the guests leading 66:63 after two quarters. The Nuggets turned the game around in the middle of the third quarter, took the lead at 77:76 after almost half an hour, then dominated and pulled away.
Jokic led the Nuggets with 31 points, 11 assists and six rebounds, the Serb has won the Most Valuable Player award for the past two seasons and is also considered this season’s MVP contender. On the other hand, Antetokounmpo had twice won the award for the best NBA player before Jokic, the Greek also scored 31 points and nine rebounds, but disappointed after the break and only scored seven points.
Booker leads Suns to victory – Pelicans three-season record
In the other top game, the Phoenix Suns, who lost three times in a row and won only one of the last seven games, beat the Philadelphia 76ers 125:105 (58:53), although they still had to do without their superstar Kevin Durant . Devin Booker was the top scorer at Phoenix with 29 points. The Suns edged out the Los Angeles Clippers for fourth place in the west as the Clippers suffered a 110-131 (56-68) home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans set a team all-season record with 21 three-pointers converted.
Despite being sent off for Young: best value for the Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks also set a team best with 143 points, although they had to do without Trae Young in the 143:130 (72:74) home win over the Indiana Pacers from the middle of the third quarter. Atlanta’s leader was sent off after violently passing the ball to the referee after a technical foul.