Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić is primarily recognized for his playmaking, however the Denver Nuggets star is greater than able to placing the ball within the basket at a powerful charge, as she confirmed Saturday throughout Serbia’s 84-80 win over Latvia at EuroBasket 2025.
Jokić poured in 39 factors on 15 of 26 from the sphere, whereas including 10 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals, to interrupt his personal document for the highest-scoring sport by a Serbian participant in EuroBasket historical past. With the win, Serbia improved to 3-0 on this yr’s competitors and clinched a spot within the knockout spherical.
“I haven’t got any phrases,” Serbian guard Aleksa Avramović informed Basket Information about Jokić’s efficiency.
Utilizing his impeccable contact across the basket, Jokić flipped in an array of pictures within the paint, lots of them over Latvian and Atlanta Hawks heart Kristaps Porziņģis, who stars for Latvia. Whereas Jokić did the vast majority of his work on the rim, his most essential basket got here from behind the arc.
With simply over 90 seconds remaining and Serbia clinging to a four-point lead, Jokić set a display screen for Avramović and popped as an alternative of rolling to the basket. Avramović discovered him large open on the prime of the important thing and Jokić set his ft and buried the triple to push Serbia’s result in seven.
“He is our chief. After we see him cleared the path and do all of the issues he is doing, even over two or three defenders, it offers everyone else the motivation to step up much more,” Serbian massive man Filip Petrušev mentioned. “That is why it was a terrific workforce victory tonight.”
Serbia, one of many favorites to win the event, is now 3-0 and has superior to the knockout spherical, regardless of nonetheless having two extra video games to play within the group stage. Serbia shall be in motion once more on Monday in opposition to Czechia and on Wednesday in opposition to Türkiye.
The place to observe EuroBasket 2025: Dwell stream, schedule, scores, TV channel, video games in the present day, format, what to know
Jasmyn Wimbish
By way of the primary three video games, Jokić is averaging 24.3 factors, 10 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 65% capturing. Amongst all gamers within the event, he’s fifth in scoring and third in rebounding, however solely nineteenth in assists.
