On the night between Wednesday and Thursday, Central European time, ten games were played in the NBA, and all Serbian players in the world’s strongest league took to the court, with the exception of Aleksej Pokushevski and Boban Marjanović. As expected, the most notable was NBA champion Nikola Jokic, but his Denver team was defeated in Salt Lake City. Shooting problems continue for Serbian captain Bogdan Bogdanović, and another world vice-champion – young Nikola Jović – was excellent in Miami Heat.
Although it is evident that the Denver Nuggets, the reigning NBA champions, are not playing at full capacity in this part of the regular season, some trends could worry coach Michael Malone. Denver was defeated as a guest by the Utah Jazz with a score of 124:111 in another match in which Nikola Jokic practically did not miss.
This duel will also be remembered for the fact that Jokić became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 13,000 or more points, 6,000 or more rebounds and 4,000 and more assists. Before him, LeBron James was the youngest in this category.
In the duel that was played in the “Kaseja Center”, two Serbian internationals met on the floor, and the third, Aleksej Pokuševski. A younger basketball player got a far greater chance to show his talents and – he used it. got the chance to play. Vasilije Micić and Nikola Jović, he did not enter by the coach’s decision. Oklahoma City Thunder beat Miami Heat 128:120 as a guest, and
Since he signed a new multi-year fabulous contract, Miami coach Erik Spolstra “honored” the young Jovic with his trust and kept him on the floor for more than 32 and half a minute. Starter Jović scored 15 points (5/8 from the field, 2/2 penalties), and also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal .
In Miami, the best was Bem Adebayo with 25 points (9/16 from the field), 11 rebounds and 6 assists, and great hands Jaime Hakez contributed with 21 points and 5 rebounds.
In Oklahoma City Vasa Micić, former Euroleague MVP, played 14 minutes. During that time, the Serbian playmaker recorded 4 points (2/2 from the field), 1 rebound and a steal each, and as many as 5 assists. 28 points from the great scorer Shay Giljus-Alexander were of great help to the “Thunder”.
The Atlanta Hawks were better at home than the Philadelphia 76ers after overtime with 139:132, but the team’s best scorer did not play for the guests from Pennsylvania Joel Embiid.
Bogdanović played a little more than 28 minutes and during that time scored 15 points (7/16 from the field), with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 turnover . It wasn’t Bogdan’s three-point night – he hit just one of eight attempts. .
The Chicago Bulls beat the Houston Rockets at home after overtime, with Boban Marjanović not playing. The result was 124:119 for “Bulls” in whose ranks Nikola Vučević played very well. The best Montenegrin basketball player of all time recorded 18 points (9/17 from the field), 15 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Serbian coach’s team also played, but the Toronto Raptors Darka Rajaković were defeated on the road by the Clippers by the score 126:120.