No rest for the weary: Jokic, Nuggets go back-to-back against Bucks

On the heels of Nikola Jokic‘s third triple-double of the month and season, the Denver Nuggets are in Milwaukee on a back-to-back Tuesday night looking for their second-straight win.

Regular season game No. 61 | Denver Nuggets (27-33) @ Milwaukee Bucks (26-32)

BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee Wisconsin | 6:00 PM MST | TV: Altitude

 Magic Jokic reappears

The concerns around Jokic’s slow start out of the All-Star break were on everyone’s minds as the Nuggets tipped off against Chicago Tuesday. Yet, by the end of the night, those fears were erased.

Jokic poured in his third triple-double of the month, showing he’s likely over the fatigue that caused his slow start after All-Star weekend in New Orleans. Now, Jokic tries to show some consistency and put a couple games together that will erase any remaining doubt about his fitness.

In fact, Jokic’s first career triple-double of the season and of his career came against Milwaukee back on Feb. 3. Jokic poured in 20 points to go with 12 rebounds and 11 assists in that previous home win as Denver arrives in Milwaukee early Wednesday likely needing a similar outing for Jokic to come away with the win.

Jokic’s fatigue was a real thing. It was evident from the eye test that Jokic wasn’t playing at the level he was pre-All-Star break. Hopefully his night in Chicago, with a little Serbian home cooking mixed in, set him on his way.

Gallinari’s resurgence

Danilo Gallinari hadn’t looked like himself for much of the 2016-17 season. The 29-year-old looked to be caught between his role as the Nuggets’ No. 1 option like he was for much of last season, and handing over those offensive reigns to Jokic.

Afer missing Denver’s last eight games before All-Star weekend, Gallinari looks like a different player over the Nuggets’ four matchups since the break. Gallinari’s looked energetic, he’s playing quicker than he has all season, and is in the zone offensively. He’s now shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three, both the highest percentages he’s shot since his sophomore season in 2009.

The Nuggets need this Gallinari to hold onto the eighth seed. They currently lead the Sacramento Kings by two games and the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks by 2.5 games for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.