Relive Nikola Jokic's spectacular 40-point night

 

It was a special night Friday in New York, as the Nuggets defeated the New York Knicks 131-123 to push their advantage over Portland to 1.5 games in the race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

After a triple-double against Milwaukee lifted his profile to new heights around the league, Nikola Jokic‘s 40-point game in Madison Square Garden is sure to amplify it even more. Jokic was magnificent against the Knicks; 40 points on 17-23 shooting including 2-3 from three-point range, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in 37 minutes.

Here’s how it all went down.

Jokic’s first basket of the night set the scene for what was to come. A nice dump off from Jameer Nelson sets up Jokic, who slips behind the Knicks’ defense.

Jokic’s second hoop is an ode to the aggressive mindset he’s had on the offensive end of the floor over the past couple months. If Jokic sees a matchup he likes and knows he can take advantage of, he’s not afraid to attack his man off the bounce.

Next, we start to see where Jokic will make his money this Friday night; In the paint. Jokic finished the night 9-12 from within five feet and was a perfect 4-4 from 5-9 feet, per NBA.com. More on that later.

Next, Jokic works to find a seam in the defense as Will Barton drives baseline. Take note of how Jokic just glides into an area where Barton can easily deliver a pass once he’s cut off. Jokic is shooting the highest percentage in the league from 5-9 feet, as well as from 10-14 feet this year.

Jokic then attacks Willy Hernangomez off the dribble again. As Hernangomez takes one step towards Barton to try and anticipate the dribble-hand-off, Jokic spins right by him and to the basket.

Jokic again, in the right place at the right time, finds Derrick Rose between him and the basket and again shows off his touch from the pains. Easy work.

At this point, the Knicks have surely figured out that giving Jokic that much space, from six-feet where the 21-year-old is shooting 63.3 percent from this year isn’t a recipe for success.

Jokic walks Kristaps Porzinigs, who finished with 17 points on 7-14 shooting to go with four rebounds in the loss, up to the elbow where he loves to operate. Pass, shoot, or dribble, Jokic is a threat from all areas of the floor. Porzinigs needs to be a step closer to Jokic here.

The Nuggets clear out the strong side for Jokic who comes through the paint to the near block and pins Porzingis on his backside. Note to all young post players: Watch how Jokic plants himself right on the block after coming across the paint. He keeps his defender on his back, under the basket perfectly.

Jokic’s 10th basket of the night is a running right-handed hook coming across the lane from the left block. The physics to get this shot over Porzinigis, who stands at 7-foot-3 with a higher vertical than Jokic, seem impossible. The Serbian has to let this ball go at it’s highest point. Here, he gets the timing just right. On the season Jokic is scoring 1.14 points per possession on post-ups. That’s the second-highest mark in the league (DeMar DeRozan) for players who have attempted more than 50 post ups.

Jokic in the right place at the right time again and clears space for his 12th basket of the night.

Jokic was 2-3 from distance in New York and is now up to 35.9 percent shooting from three this year. Just a poor closeout from Hernangomez.

If you’ve been watching Jokic closely this year, you would have noticed how he’s perfected the art of tipping the ball to himself for an offensive and defensive rebound. Here, he tips it in over Hernangomez.

Another post up where Jokic goes right by Porzinigs. Jokic is a better prospect than Porzingis at this point and he proved it Friday.

Jokic has all day to coil and release here. Hand down, man down.

A picturesque Jokic possession caps off a career-night for the second-year center. Denver moves to 1.5 games up on Portland for the eighth seed in the West and that much closer to their first playoff birth in three years.