On a night that included a boring trade deadline and the unveiling of a Kobe Bryant statue, the Lakers still had a game to play against the Nuggets.
Denver led by as many as 15 points at one point in the match. But the Lakers were able to tie the game, 104-104, with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, however, there is only so much you can do to slow down Nikola Jokic.
The reigning NBA Finals MVP was defended by Anthony Davis near the top of the key. Austin Reaves left the perimeter for a gamble to send a double team and try to grab a steal, however, and that left Michael Porter Jr. wide open on the left wing.
Jokic, who had his back to the basket, fully pivoted his body when he saw Reaves sprint toward him. But the big man may have the fastest hands in the league, as we learned in a recent profile in the New Yorker, and the gamble by Reaves didn’t work out.
The big man quickly delivered a perfect pass to Porter, who was able to hit the uncontested catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with just over one minute left on the clock:
Coach Malone: “it’s almost as if Jokić has radar and can sense him coming.” pic.twitter.com/6FnHPVFIun
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) February 9, 2024
This also sealed an 8-0 run for Denver, which gave the Nuggets a big enough lead to close out the game.
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk reported that Porter “tried to warn” Jokic that Reaves was coming for a double but the big man did not hear him. Instead, he just sensed the coverage and made the right reaction.
Perhaps the craziest part of this sequence, though, is that it maybe wasn’t even Jokic’s most baffling pass of the night:
Joker behind the back DIME 🪙 pic.twitter.com/e62Q152CCy
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 9, 2024
That came earlier in the game when Jokic somehow delivered a behind-the-back assist to Justin Holiday.
But let’s look at some of the reactions to his pass in the fourth quarter:
I just can’t fathom how Jokic knew Reaves was there pic.twitter.com/AbR0xoxMi7
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) February 9, 2024
Reaves rightfully getting cooked for the gamble here but damn this is insane pic.twitter.com/rfkmafL38y
— JokicJoestar (@JoestarJokic) February 9, 2024
Jokic, fastest hands in the league: “evaluators at P3 also test how fast a player can get his hands to the height at which the ball typically bounces off the rim. At this, Jokić was among the ten quickest players of all time.” pic.twitter.com/Am9mANmKRz
— will jones ⚒️ (@Will_d_jones) February 9, 2024
This is insane feel for the game that Jokic just has. Eyes in the back of his head stuff. pic.twitter.com/zR6yOunUFK
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) February 9, 2024
Get outta here! How?! Jokic is on a whole other level! pic.twitter.com/rbNFFP1mfH
— Chaz Evans (@yaboichazzeh) February 9, 2024
HOW??? Bro I’m convinced Jokic has superpowers because he doesn’t even “react” like other great passers and make a tough pass he’s so calm it’s almost like he completely saw the future and just read it pic.twitter.com/bwanLk0Il0
— Carlos 🟠 (@CarlosBerkley) February 9, 2024
Chuck: "What the hell is Austin Reaves doing, leaving Michael Porter Jr. open?"
Ernie: "He's gambling and losing. You should know all about that." 😭pic.twitter.com/5wgzDDdSOo
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 9, 2024
