After a tough OT loss, Nikola Jokic revealed the true driving force behind his game.
The Denver Nuggets fell to the New York Knicks 134-127 in double overtime on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, dropping their third straight game and falling to 33-19 on the season.
It was a brutal result for a team that fought hard to force two extra periods, only to come up short against one of the best teams in the East.
After the game, Jokic was asked what he missed the most during his month-long absence. His answer showed just how much the game means to him.
"Just to be able to compete. Playing in this kind of games, against a really good team, probably one of the best teams in the league," Jokic said.
"Competing against some really good players. The adrenaline. Those are the things you want to be part of. Unfortunately, we didn't come up on the side that we wanted to. But yeah, they're a good team. Came up short tonight."
Jokic Makes History Despite Tough Shooting Night
Even on a rough shooting night, Jokic found ways to make an impact.
The three-time MVP finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists with zero turnovers, recording his first triple-double since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for 16 games.
It tied him with Oscar Robertson for the second-most triple-doubles in NBA history at 181.
It was far from a clean night, though. Jokic shot just 10-of-27 from the field and a career-worst 1-of-13 from three. In the overtime periods, he went 0-for-3 from deep and 1-of-3 from the line.
On the season, he is averaging 29.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game, putting him on pace for another historic year.
He also dealt with a scare in the first quarter when he stepped on OG Anunoby's foot and went down grabbing his left leg, the same one that kept him out for a month.
He later said it was his ankle and not his knee, adding, "Who cares?"
Watson's Hamstring Injury Adds to Denver's Pain
As painful as the loss was, the bigger concern is the health of Peyton Watson.
The breakout fourth-year forward left in the fourth quarter after grabbing his right hamstring while cutting to the rim and did not return.
He is set to undergo an MRI in the coming days after finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes.
Watson has been one of Denver's most important players this season, averaging 14.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the field.
He stepped into a starting role when Aaron Gordon went down, and losing him would be a major blow to a roster also without Gordon and Cameron Johnson.
"It's deflating when you see guys going down around you, and you're trying to build something," head coach David Adelman said.
The Knicks (33-18) have now won eight straight behind Jalen Brunson's 42-point night. For the Nuggets, the road back keeps getting longer.
Denver has a couple of days off before closing out its road trip against the Bulls on Saturday, hoping to snap a skid that has come at the worst possible time.