If Nikola Jokic plays, Denver’s franchise centerpiece is going to play.
The NBA’s MVP favorite had no interest in taking Friday’s game, the second night of a back-to-back, off. Instead, he racked up his 16th triple-double of the year in Denver’s 104-91 win over the Pistons.
“(Coach) asked me yesterday,” Jokic said. “(I said) ‘I’m just gonna play.’ He can decide how many minutes, but I just want to be out there and available for the team.”
The win kept the pressure on the Clippers, who started the night as the No. 3 seed and just one game ahead of the Nuggets in the standings.