Russell Westbrook heaped praise on Nikola Jokic following the Denver Nuggets’ commanding 139-120 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
The former MVP lauded his teammate’s impact, calling Jokic “the best player in the world” during his postgame remarks.
“My job is to make the game easy for him, and he does it for everybody else,” Westbrook said. “It’s a pleasure to share the floor with him.”
Jokic dominated the game with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists, securing his 12th triple-double of the season. He nearly achieved the feat in the first half, falling just one assist short.
The victory marked Denver’s second blowout win over Atlanta this season. The Nuggets improved to 19-13, while the Hawks saw their four-game winning streak snapped.
Denver’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with seven players scoring in double figures. Jamal Murray added 21 points, while Westbrook recorded 16 points and 11 assists, stepping up in Aaron Gordon’s absence due to a calf strain.
The Nuggets displayed precision from the free-throw line, finishing 21-of-21, and set a season-high with 44 assists. Their ball movement kept the Hawks’ defense scrambling, allowing Denver to capitalize on every opportunity.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 30 points and nine assists, but the Hawks unraveled during a decisive third-quarter run. Denver outscored Atlanta 39-14 in that stretch, with Young and De’Andre Hunter each picking up technical fouls.
