Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic renews rivalry with Kings’ Domantas Sabonis
The two most productive double-double machines in the NBA this season continue a budding rivalry Wednesday night when Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets visit Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings.
The meeting of the league leader in double-doubles (Jokic with 52) and the NBA’s second-best (Sabonis with 44) will be the third since the Kings acquired their new star big man from the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 8.
Jokic was on suspension when the Nuggets hosted the Pacers earlier this season. Denver won that game 101-98 on Nov. 10 despite Sabonis putting up 20 points and 19 rebounds.
The Jokic-Sabonis story continued with back-to-back games on Feb. 24 and 26. Denver beat Sacramento in both, with Jokic tallying 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the first meeting and completing the triple-double in the second (18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds). Sabonis countered with a pair of double-doubles for his new team.
Wednesday’s game completes the Nuggets-Kings series this regular season, with Denver having won each of the first three.
Jokic and Sabonis have routinely brought out the best in each other, especially in recent matchups.
In 12 career head-to-heads, Jokic has come out on the winning side eight times, averaging 23.4 points and 9.8 rebounds while registering one triple-double and six double-doubles.
Sabonis has responded with averages of 13.9 points and 8.9 rebounds, with two triple-doubles and four double-doubles, all in the last seven meetings. He had nine rebounds and nine assists in the lone “single-double” effort in that stretch.
With duels twice as frequently now as Western Conference rivals, Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry believes Sabonis can use the increased familiarity as a learning experience for the next matchup.
“It’s really tough because you’re talking about a guy that not only has great footwork but (is) just a super-intelligent player,” Gentry said of Jokic. “It’s tough to play him because they go to him so much and he puts so much pressure on you.”
In winning three straight and nine of 10, the Nuggets have gotten plenty of help for their reigning MVP.
During their winning streak, DeMarcus Cousins stepped in for Jokic and delivered 31 points against the Houston Rockets; Aaron Gordon complemented a monster effort from his teammate with 28 points against the New Orleans Pelicans; and little-used Davon Reed surprised the Golden State Warriors with 17 points in a 131-124 triumph in Denver’s most recent game on Monday.
“With Davon, I watch him work every day,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone noted. “I joked with him before the (Golden State) game: ‘You got any shots left in that clip?’ Because he’s been working so hard and shooting it so well. He goes: ‘Coach, I’m gonna stay ready.'”
While the Nuggets were holding off the Warriors, the Kings were blowing a 20-point lead to the visiting New York Knicks by allowing 83 in the second half of a 131-115 drubbing on Monday night.
Sabonis had a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double, his 10th in 11 games since joining Sacramento, in the loss.
