Nikola Jokić beats an insane 66-foot buzzer-beat and writes history as Denver nuggets tops Sacramento Kings



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More like a quarterbacks pass than a three -point, Nikola Jokićs Hardly credible 66-foot shot summarized virtually his historic performance in Denver nuggets’ 132-123 Victory over Sacramento Kings.

The outrageous moment came at the end of the third quarter when Jokić gathered the ball with 1.7 seconds back and threw a one-handed buzzer beat almost throughout the length of the course.

As members of the home crowd got up, the triple MVP seemed hardly surprised or impressed with the bold piece of skill as he nonchalant high-fiving his teammates before leaving the field.

“When you play, you will do every single shot,” Jokić told journalists after Thursday’s match. “I took it to make it and made it. Of course, it was a lucky shot, it’s not really a high percentage.

“That’s three points,” he added. “I think it will help us.”

Jokić ended the game with 35 points, 22 rebounds and 17 assists, and completed his fifth triple-double in a row before the fourth quarter. Of his liga 20 Triple Doubles this season, 14 have come before the final period.

It was also only the second time in the NBA history that a player has recorded a 35-20-15 match after Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.

Jokić shoots over Domanta's Sabonis in the first quarter.

“Historically,” was how Nuggets coach Michael Malone described Jokić’s performance and added, “These numbers are translated into victories. It’s not empty statistics, it’s not hollow numbers.

“You think of his 10 years here, you think of the three MVPs you think about the championship, the final’s MVP, and this is the best season he has ever had. And it says a lot – just continued to great.”

With the victory against Kings (23-21), Denver improved to 12-3 during the last 15 games and moved to 28-16 this season.

A 40-point first quarter saw the nuggets take a comfortable lead at the Ball Arena. Their lead had grown to 22 points at the half and 25 points at the end of the third after Jokić hit his spectacular buzzer beat.

Kings, led by Demar Derozan’s 24 points and Domantas Sabonis’ 23 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, gathered towards the end of the match, but could only close the distance to nine.

Each nugget starter contributed at least 18 points, but it was Jokić who stole the show and shot 12-of-19 off the floor.

Nuggets are now traveling to meet Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday afternoon, while Kings stay away and welcome New York Knicks in the evening.