Inspired by in-form center Nikola Jokic on Tuesday, the Denver Nuggets took over at the top of the NBA Western Conference, after knocking the Memphis Grizzlies off their perch with a convincing 105-91 win.
Jokic produced his sixth triple-double of the season with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, as Denver handed Memphis their second straight defeat after a seven-game winning run.
With 35 points and 10 assists, Ja Morant starred for the Grizzlies, but Denver’s scoring was spread throughout the team — Aaron Gordon top-scored with 24 points, but all the starters reached double figures.
Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA Today
The Nuggets led 55-40 at halftime with their defense not allowing the Grizzlies any time or space.
Jokic’s passing was superb at times, but the Serb was pleased with the way they limited the Grizzlies offense.
“Our defense was amazing, we were aggressive from the start, we had a bit of luck in the third quarter, but generally the whole game we had a really good defensive night,” Jokic said.
“I think that is the key for us to go deep in the playoffs,” he added.
The two teams are tied at the top of the West with 19-11 records. The New York Knicks extended their winning streak to eight games as they continued their push towards a playoff spot with an emphatic 132-94 win over defending NBA champions the Golden State Warriors.
The Knicks were never behind in the game after opening up an 8-0 lead and ran away with the game in the second half.
Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points and Jalen Brunson 21, with Quentin Grimes (19) and R.J. Barrett (18) also making big contributions.
Golden State have won just three games on the road this season, and coach Steve Kerr said they have yet to find their edge.
“You win the championship and there’s just a natural human nature drop-off,” Kerr said. “You’re just not on edge. Combine that with other factors — injuries and stuff — it’s just we haven’t gotten there yet.”
Nikola Vucevic put up 29 points and DeMar DeRozan 24 points as the Chicago Bulls beat an under-strength Miami Heat 113-103 to end a four-game losing run.
The Heat, who had won their previous four outings, were without Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin and, although Bam Adebayo stepped up scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, they were blown away in the third quarter.
The Utah Jazz beat the struggling Detroit Pistons 126-111, with Lauri Markkanen scoring 38 points and a career-high nine three-pointers, while the Washington Wizards beat the Phoenix Suns 113-110 to end their 10-game losing run.
The Taiwan Daredevils yesterday won one and lost one in the Taiwan Premier League, dispatching TCA with ease, but stumbling against Formosa. In the morning match at the Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山), the Daredevils’ Johan Koekemoer carried his side to 141-6 with 44 from 45 in their 20 overs. George Klopper’s right-arm spin dominated in the run chase. He claimed 4-5 from 3.3 overs as TCA slumped to 77 all out. The highlight of the innings was a stunning catch at cover as Jeff Black turned back the years to pull in a full-blooded drive on the dive
The Hsinchu Titans yesterday made a strong start in Group A of the Taiwan Premier League in Taipei, winning two games as the 10-team T20 competition began at the Yingfeng Cricket Ground. Chetan Sharma scored 57 from 30 deliveries in the morning match as the Titans made 178-7 against the Taipei Indians, who helped their opponents’ cause with 26 extras. Pramod Mandal took 3-11 as the Indians struggled to 126-8 in reply. The Taipei Stallions posed a greater hurdle to the Titans in the afternoon match, posting 163-7 after choosing to bat first. Hassaan Samad smashed 77 from 44 with seven fours and six
Alexander Zverev on Wednesday reached his 18th ATP Masters semi-final in Rome, but only after a worrying fall which sparked memories of the horror injury he had at the French Open two years ago. The world No. 5 from Germany defeated Taylor Fritz of the US 6-4, 6-3 in Italian Open to set up a last-four duel with Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean journeyman who had stunned world No. 1 Novak Djokovic earlier in the tournament. Zverev’s moment of concern came in just the third game on center court at the Foro Italico when he fell on the clay and landed on his
Andre de Grasse, the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 200m, and many other top-class international athletes are to showcase their talent in Taipei at the Taiwan Athletics Open early next month, according to the event’s official Web site. The Canadian sprinter, who clocked 19.62 seconds to top the podium in Tokyo in 2021, is to compete at the Taipei Stadium after the two-day event was upgraded to a leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour. The elevated status of the Taiwan Athletics Open means participants can earn more ranking points, making it possible for the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association (CTAA), the