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In their first game following the dismissal of head coach Michael Malone, the Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Sacramento Kings with a score of 124-116 at the Golden 1 Center.
Nikola Jokic shared his thoughts during a postgame chat with ESPN, stating, “They shook us up. We need that kind of energy before the Playoffs. If we make it, I believe we can disrupt any team. We can compete with anyone.”
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with Malone, the Serbian star added, “In my experience, change is part of the sport. People come and go, but after a decade of working together, we’ve shared a lot—both good times and bad, including a championship win. We have some treasured memories, but it’s simply part of the business.”
During Wednesday’s match, the Sombor native notched his 33rd triple-double of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, finishing the game with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, along with four steals.
In his first remarks since the coaching change, Jokic made headlines. pic.twitter.com/o1PMhpQETm
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)April 10, 2025
“They say we’re weak, but I believe that a vulnerable beast is at its fiercest and most perilous,” he cautioned as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 Playoffs presented by Google.
Both of Jokic’s fellow European teammates, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar and Croatian Dario Saric, stayed on the sidelines for their debut under interim head coach David Adelman.
“I wanted to share my observations. I believe it made a difference. I think it will aid us in various scenarios. So, if I notice something, I’ll speak up,” Jokic explained about taking initiative during timeouts and assisting teammates in strategizing.
Could Nikola Jokic be the new head coach for the Nuggets? pic.twitter.com/Wt2WHTFjPU
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)April 10, 2025
On the other side, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis contributed a double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and one block. Off the bench, Jonas Valanciunas, also from Lithuania, managed two points and two rebounds.
In a remarkable performance, another Balkan player, Ivica Zubac, achieved his first career triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while also adding a steal to help the Los Angeles Clippers secure a 134-117 victory over the Houston Rockets—marking their sixth consecutive win.
What an impressive season for Ivica Zubac!
He just tallied his first-ever triple-double! pic.twitter.com/SsmNapUeKx
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet)April 10, 2025
French player Nicolas Batum scored 15 points and grabbed three rebounds in just nine minutes before exiting due to a right groin strain. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 16 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
Meanwhile, Turkish Alperen Sengun was ruled out of the game due to lower back discomfort.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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