The Denver Nuggets needed a response after a tough loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
He presented one emphatically. On Friday night, the Nuggets destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers 157-103.
Nikola Jokic led the way and produced his best performance since returning from injury. He finished the night with 32 points on 10 of 15 shooting. He was also 3-of-4 from three-point range.
"We played really well. Everybody stepped up, everybody played with a lot of energy," Jokic said. "The defense was playing at a high level. We were making shots. We had a good start, in fact, it was a perfect game for us."
Nuggets bounce back with huge win over Trail Blazers
The Nuggets' 157 points are the most points scored by any team this season. From a franchise perspective, this is the seventh-highest score in franchise history. The 54-point margin of victory is also the second largest in franchise history.
"We were creating open looks. The ball was going in, that's when you feel confident," Jokic added. “We were there playing for each other.”
The entire Nuggets roster had a stellar performance, with seven players finishing the night in double figures. Jamal Murray was lethal from deep, scoring 6 of 12 on three-point attempts. He would finish the night with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julian Strother, who was placed in the starting lineup, continued his hot streak with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Whenever Strother was on the court, the Nuggets were an amazing +48.
The Nuggets will conclude their short road trip by visiting the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
