Rockets VS Nuggets! The most thrilling NBA game of this season! Coach Jokic, the best in the world

Tonight’s NBA Western Conference games were quite late, let’s talk about two overtime matches.

The Mavericks lost to the Jazz 133-140 in overtime.

Flag put up his season’s signature performance.

He played 41 minutes, shooting 13 of 27, 1 of 4 from beyond the arc, and 15 of 20 from the free-throw line, finishing with 42 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.

He became the first player in NBA history to score 40+ points in a single game at just 18 years old, making him the youngest 40+ scorer ever.

The new top draft pick has already joined an elite list in his first 25 career games, achieving 400 points, 150 rebounds, 30 steals, and 20 three-pointers.

Before him, only LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Victor Wembanyama have done this.

Before turning 19, only LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have scored more points than him in NBA history.

After Kidd abandoned his experiment, Flag returned to his familiar small forward role, shining brightly and reclaiming the top rookie favorite spot.

This season, the Mavericks’ record might not be great, but the new American star is destined for greatness.

Those who are truly great, have been great all along.

There aren’t many late bloomers in this world, unless his name is Nikola Jokic.

The Rockets played the Nuggets on the road and also went into overtime but unfortunately lost.

After this game, the Nuggets maintain second place in the West, the Rockets drop to fifth, and the Lakers and Spurs each move up one spot.

This game has been the most content-rich and, in my opinion, the best match-up so far this season.

The intensity surpassed many conference finals and even some NBA Finals from recent years.

Because CCTV5 broadcasted it, it brought back the excitement and tension I felt as a kid rushing home at noon to watch games.

A battle of stars, let’s start with the players.

Sengun had 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists; Durant scored 25 points with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks; Jokic recorded 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists; Murray added 35 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.

First impression: Coach Jokic is simply the best in the world.

He fouled out in the last moments of overtime, but that doesn’t diminish how impressive he was—those stats speak for themselves.

Sengun?

Of course, he’s impressive too, but there’s still a gap compared to the big brother.

Undoubtedly, the referees’ calls in this game will become a major talking point after the match.

Jokic’s ejection at the end was the refs trying to balance things out, as Amen’s non-contact foul on Hardaway could have gone either way.

If Amen’s foul hadn’t been called, the game probably wouldn’t have gone into overtime.

Away games often come with unfavorable situations.

Putting the refereeing aside, I mainly want to talk about the Rockets’ problems.

If the goal is to win the championship, Houston’s current performance isn’t enough to challenge the big boss.

Their play has a very rough edge to it.

The Nuggets are a championship-winning team, and no matter how their roster changes, it’s always the duo of Murray and Coach Jokic carrying the show—possibly the most familiar pairing in the league.

Others joining the team play supporting roles; for example, Spencer Jones just needs to focus on doing his job well.

This ensures that the Nuggets’ system operates around a solid core.

The Rockets have height, strong defense, good physicality, and aggression—these are their strengths.

However, their offensive options are limited.

In overtime, the final play didn’t even get to Durant... this is abstract but very typical of Udoka’s coaching style.

The player I was most disappointed with on the Rockets today, without a doubt,was Amen Thompson.

This “athlete” really looked like a rookie in front of Coach Jokic... many of his decisions could easily give Rockets fans a headache.

Being physically gifted doesn’t always guarantee victory.

Often, I find myself thinking:

Basketball IQ is the highest form of talent.