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.
READY TO GO: Lin, who got a first-round bye and is to compete in the round of 16 on Friday, said all she can do is ‘ignore what the haters say’ and focus on her bouts Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who was stripped of her bronze medal at last year’s International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships after failing a gender eligibility test, has been cleared to compete in Paris, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Monday. Lin and Imane Khelif of Algeria, who had both been disqualified at the world championship in New Delhi in March last year, have complied with all rules to fight at the Games, the IOC said. They are now to compete in their second Summer Games, after both finishing outside the podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. “All athletes participating
China’s 24-year-old table tennis player Wang Chuqin was overjoyed on Tuesday after securing his first Olympic gold medal alongside teammate Sun Yingsha. His elation soon turned to disbelief, anger and frustration when he discovered that his new paddle — crucial for his singles and team events — had been damaged by excited photographers rushing to capture the moment. Visibly upset, Wang tried to ask for an explanation. His coach tried to hug him in an effort to console him and ask him to stay calm. Wang soon regained his composure despite the setback. “At that moment, I lost control of my emotions a little.
In April last year, Taiwanese badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying finally opened up about her future in the sport in which she had competed professionally since 2009. “My plan is to retire after the end of next year’s season. Even if I’m still able to compete, I would prefer not to,” she said at a promotional event. If true, the Paris Olympics would be her last stab at an Olympic gold medal, a prize some might think a player who has topped the rankings in women’s singles for a record total of 214 weeks — between December 2016 and September 2022 — should
Japan’s 14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa on Sunday grabbed gold in the all-teenage women’s street skateboard final at the Paris Olympics, after nailing a high-risk ride down the hand-rail. Yoshizawa went into her penultimate trick with two big scores, but needing a third to complete her total, before finishing in style. “I knew that if I wanted to win, I had to go for the most difficult tricks. I didn’t aim for second or third place; I aimed for the top spot with my highest difficulty moves,” she said. Even though all her rivals had one more run, she raised her board above