Image Source: TNT Sports
[Saba Sports News] Securing a coach’s challenge victory is one of the few things capable of igniting passion in Denver Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic. His intense display of emotion, arguably unprecedented for him on an NBA court, occurred during a tense moment in the Nuggets’ Tuesday game against the Phoenix Suns at Denver’s Ball Arena.
With the Nuggets trailing 96-90 and rallying in the fourth quarter, a crucial moment arose just past the five-minute mark. Following a bounce pass from Aaron Gordon that went out of bounds, officials initially ruled it against Jokic. This decision propelled him into an impassioned plea for Coach Michael Malone to contest the call.
Their successful challenge, revealing the ball last touched Suns’ Royce O’Neale, was a pivotal moment, seemingly expected by Jokic given his vehement reaction. This spurred the Nuggets’ impressive comeback from a 22-point deficit, pushing the game into overtime, although they ultimately fell to the Suns 117-107, with Kevin Durant dominating the extra session.
Jokic contributed significantly with 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists, despite his seven turnovers representing a significant portion of the team’s total.
This event marked another instance of Jokic’s rare emotional outbursts this season, recalling his exuberant celebration following a game-winning shot against the Golden State Warriors.