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Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic’s five best games this season

By Dean Hasan

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 12: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center on December 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 12: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center on December 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

5. 1/8/20 vs. Dallas Mavericks

On Jan. 8, the Nuggets hit the road to take on the Dallas Mavericks, two games removed from a win over the Atlanta Hawks. While Jokic didn’t score in the first quarter, he started strong with five assists in the opening frame. He got the ball rolling in the second quarter with seven points, but it wasn’t until the second half that he took over.

The Joker drained four threes in the third quarter and bulldozed his way through the post for 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Overall, he scored or assisted on 25 of his team’s 30 points in the quarter, and at one point he scored 11 straight for the team, followed by a second streak of seven in a row.

While Jokic was a bit quiet in the fourth quarter, recording just five points on two made field goals, he made each one count. With about 13 seconds remaining in the game, he went to work on Dorian Finney-Smith. Jokic exploited the mismatch, backing down Finney-Smith before laying it in to take the lead with 7.9 to go.

Jokic ended the game with 33 points, six rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block to cap off a win against a solid Dallas team. The Nuggets improved to 26-11 on the season and evened the season series with the Mavericks at one game apiece.

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