Nikola Jokic sunk a dramatic three-pointer at the death as the Denver Nuggets fought back to beat the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, leading coach Michael Malone to say the two-time NBA MVP “lives for those moments”.
The Warriors looked set to end a two-year wait to beat Denver when they took a 107-94 lead into the fourth quarter as Chase Center.
However, the Nuggets finished on a 25-4 run for a 130-127 win, which was sealed when Jokic sent an astonishing three-pointer sailing over the arms of Kevon Looney and in as time expired.
Read our other US sports stories here:
‘The sky is the limit’ for Wembanyama, says Giannis after thrilling Bucks-Spurs battle
Crosby follows Adams in backing Pierce for Las Vegas role
Quinn ignoring HC talk to focus on Dallas Cowboys
Jokic finished the game with 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, having also tied the game with a short jumper just 23 seconds before his three-pointer.
Asked if he could take any credit for Jokic’s winner, Nuggets coach Malone said: “I wish I could, but that’s just a great player making a great play.
“Nikola lives for those moments, and it’s great and joyful to watch a player of his talent go out there and make the plays that he makes.
JOKIC WINS IT ‼️
JOKER WINS THE GAME WITH THE #TissotBuzzerBeater FROM 39 FEET AWAY #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/ykPdygIQ03
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024
“When you get down to this team, it’s very easy to drop your head, in this building with that crowd.
“That’s probably the thing I was most pleased with tonight – everybody, coaches, players, we just stayed the course even after that third quarter which they dominated.”
Jokic himself, meanwhile, had no doubt his last-gasp attempt was going in, adding he had no other option but to take on the shot.
“That was the last option with that play. I just took a shot,” Jokic said. “I think those shots are the easiest shots to take. You don’t have any other options.
“So actually, when I felt it, I thought, ‘oh, I’m going to bank this’. You can see the flight of the ball, and I just knew I was going to bank it.”
While Denver improved to 25-11 with their eighth win in their last nine games, the Warriors are 16-18 after losing four of their last five.
Highest FG% over a four-game span in the shot clock era (since 1954-55) with a minimum of 40 attempts:
91.8% (45-49) – Wilt Chamberlain (2/17-28, 1967)
91.5% (43-47) – Wilt Chamberlain (11/29-12/3, 1966)
88.6% (39-44) – Nikola Jokic (12/28/2023-1/4/2024) pic.twitter.com/2tlwqJsZGc— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 5, 2024
