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Washington (AFP) – Serbian Nikola Jokic achieved a double trail with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets, the leaders of the Western Region in the NBA, to beat its guest Boston Celtics, the Western leaders 123-111, Sunday, on the first day of the new year.
The best player in the league succeeded twice in 10 attempts out of 13 in the evening, including two throws from behind the arc, and with a success rate of 100% from free throws (8), achieving the ninth “Triple Double” this season.
Denver strengthened its record to 24-12 in the Western lead once morest the Memphis Grizzlies (23-13), who won the same evening over the Sacramento Kings, to achieve its tenth victory in the last 12 games, and to end a series of four victories in a row for Boston.
This is Denver’s first victory over the Celtics since November 2019. Bruce Brown contributed with 21 points and Michael Porter Jr. with 19.
Jaylen Brown was the best in the Celtics with 30 points and 8 rebounds, while Jason Tatum added 25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the loser, who still leads the league with a record of 26-11.
The game was stopped for 34 minutes with 6:43 minutes left in the fourth quarter to fix a sprain in the basket ring following a crushing basket from Boston’s Robert Williams when the Nuggets were leading 110-97.
The Milwaukee Bucks, the third in the East, fell at home to the Washington Wizards 118-95, in the absence of its Greek star, Yannis Antitokounmpo, due to knee pain.
Japan’s Roi Hachimura, who came off the bench, led the winner with a game-high 26 points as Washington clinched their fifth consecutive win.
Ja Morant scored 25 points as the Memphis Gezelzels beat the Sacramento Kings 118-108 for their third straight victory.
© 2023 AFP
