"I always expect for him to take over": Nikola Jokic delivers another classic KO

Who knows where Nikola Jokic found an extra gear Wednesday in New Orleans. It didn’t seem like he was going to have it after halftime when Jokic and the Nuggets’ starters again came out of halftime without much spirit.

But with three minutes remaining in regulation, he shifted up. First, a jump shot over Jonas Valanciunas from the right block. Then, driving, floating layup right through the chest of Brandon Ingram. Jokic took Valanciunas to school in the post with 20 seconds left in the fourth. One spin, then a shot-fake. Then another spin, then another. Finally, he laid it off the glass.

In overtime, Jokic scored Denver’s first 11 points of the extra period. It was one of his classic knockout blows. It was a finishing kick that will play on his highlight reel in Springfield one day. After the Nuggets’ latest win, which moved Denver back to .500 at 12-12 this season, Jokic is shooting 12-20 (60%) in clutch situations this season — when the score is within five points with five minutes or less remaining in the game. As a team, the Nuggets have 83 points in 38 clutch minutes this year. Jokic has 30 of those points.

“There was actually a point to start overtime where I said to myself, ‘How lucky am I to have the reigning MVP in a close game on the road that you can play through and know that something good is going to happen?’” Michael Malone said.

Jokic’s final stat line: 39 points on 17-23 shooting, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He only missed three shots the entire night from inside the arc.

Every one of Nikola Jokic's 17 baskets tonight. pic.twitter.com/LZzR2Ig5FQ

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) December 9, 2021

What made Wednesday’s KO from Jokic extra special is that it came about in improbable fashion. So much weight is on Jokic’s shoulder right now. If Denver doesn’t get a great game from Jokic, then the Nuggets are probably cooked and likely don’t even reach the century mark. It’s unfair, but it’s Denver’s reality without Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray right now.

At times during the Nuggets’ fifth game on a seven-game road trip and Wednesday vs. the Pelicans, it looked like Jokic wasn’t going to have enough juice. He was honestly as tired as I’ve seen him in years. But as Jokic typically does when the pressure’s on and his team’s back is against the wall, he delivered.

Jokic did get help Wednesday night from Denver’s bench. JaMychal Green bounced back from arguably the worst game he’s played in a Nuggets uniform to give Denver positive minutes. Green was a +2 in 16 minutes in New Orleans. He was a -22 in 11 minutes Monday in Chicago. Malone took Green aside at shootaround Wednesday morning and Denver’s coach professed to the veteran that he still has confidence in him.

“I just let him know, ‘We still believe in you,'” Malone said.

Bones Hyland also returned from quarantine in Orlando after he was deemed a COVID close contact and missed the Nuggets’ last three games to log 16 minutes. His presence allowed Denver to roll out what can be an adequate Nuggets second unit for the first time in a while. A bench built around Will Barton, who gave the Nuggets a much-needed 20-point, 3-rebound, 6-assist night, Hyland and Zeke Nnaji, who struggled Wednesday, can work. If JaMychal Green can return to last season’s form, there’s an adequate second unit there.

Denver’s bench also worked overtime Wednesday and played further into the fourth than usual so the Nuggets’ starters could take just a little bit longer of a rest. It was the right call from Malone.

That second unit then turned the game over to the reigning MVP. He did the rest.

“I always expect for him to take over,” JaMychal Green said. “I expect him to win MVP again. He’s just the best big, he really is. He’s so skilled it’s crazy.”

On nights like Wednesday, it’s impossible not to get reflective. Here we are, in Denver, watching our Larry Bird and greatest player to ever wear a Nuggets jersey make the game look so, so easy. I’m convinced I’ll never watch anyone better in Denver, and that’s OK. Jokic is one of the greats who’s somehow meaningfully better than he was last season when he won the MVP going away.

We’re so lucky.

The beauty of watching Jokic every game and covering an all-timer is that you never know when you’re going to get an all-time performance. You never know when it’s going to be one of those nights.

On a Sunday in January, Jokic can put 47 points on Rudy Gobert and the Jazz like he did last season. On a Monday in April, Jokic can tally 47 points again and lead the Nuggets to a double-OT win over the Grizzlies like he also did last year.

On a Wednesday in December, Jokic can go for 39 points and score 13-straight from the end of the fourth through the first four minutes of overtime to lift Denver to a much-needed victory.

Four players in NBA history have three career 30-point triple-doubles on 70% shooting from the field. Wilt Chamberlain (10), Magic Johnson (4), Oscar Robertson (3) and now Jokic (3).

Don’t take it for granted. I know I never will.