Nikola Jokic achieved a historic achievement after becoming the second player in the history of the NBA to record triple double figures for the 200th time during his career, while Christian Brown led the Denver Nuggets to a 104-91 victory over their host New Orleans Pelicans last night.
Jokic scored three double figures for the second time this season, both of which came against New Orleans, after he finished the match with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The Serbian player was only preceded by Russell Westbrook, who tops the all-time list with 209 wins in 18 seasons.
All of Denver's key players finished the game with double figures in points, led by Jamal Murray with 23 points, while Aaron Gordon scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Brown added 12 points and Trevon Brazile scored 11 points.
Despite a modest offensive night from DeMar DeRozan, his experience showed in the decisive moments, as he provided 5 assists and stole two balls.
Denver imposed its control from the beginning and never trailed in the score against New Orleans, which is still searching for its first win this season. Despite leading by 22 points in the second quarter, the Nuggets found themselves under increasing pressure in the second half.
Zion Williamson led the hosts' awakening by scoring 25 points, the highest average in the match, to help his team reduce the difference to 5 points in the middle of the final quarter.
But Denver settled matters quickly from beyond the arc. After a three-pointer from Murray and then another basket in the next attack, Brown responded with a three-pointer from a DeRozan pass, despite failing in all his previous attempts from long range.
A little more than a minute later, DeRozan returned to find Brown unmarked to score a second hat-trick in a row, extending the lead to 12 points and blocking any possible Pelicans comeback.
Sergio Perez turned one of Mexico City's most prominent streets into a festival of national pride, as large crowds gathered on Paseo de la Reforma to celebrate the Mexican driver before his 300th race in the Formula 1 World Championship.
About 100,000 people gathered to watch the Cadillac driver's performance, his fourth public appearance of this kind in his country during his Formula 1 career.
Mexican flags and giant pictures of Perez lined the street, while the 36-year-old driver showed off his skills behind the wheel of a modified Formula 2 car, performing exciting movements amid clouds of tire smoke, before stopping at the “Angel of Independence” monument to greet the fans.
“I know some of you have been here since last night, and I appreciate that very much,” Perez said. “You are one of the main reasons I returned to Formula 1.”
He added: “Thank you for all the unforgettable moments.”
Perez, the winner of six Grand Prix races, returned to the championship this year with the Cadillac team, which announced yesterday, Wednesday, an extension of his contract until 2029.
For fans whose high prices or sold-out tickets prevented them from attending the Mexican Grand Prix, the free event was a rare opportunity to experience the racing atmosphere up close.
Among those present was Sebastian Perez (20 years old), who is not related to the driver, wearing a racing suit and helmet that he handmade at a cost of approximately three thousand Mexican pesos.
“I will not go to the race,” he said. I couldn't get a ticket, and I wish I had. Prices are high, not everyone can afford them, and tickets sell out quickly due to the huge number of fans.”
The young man, who has been following Perez for about three years, added: “I started encouraging him when he was at Red Bull, and then I followed his retirement and return. “What I like most about him is that he never gives up.”
As for Virginia Cano (62 years old), who has been following him for about a decade, she praised what he represents outside the ring as well.
She said: “I am happy to see him as a world-class driver and a wonderful person.”
She added, laughing: “And he’s handsome, too.”
She continued: “As Mexicans, we are proud to have someone who has achieved this status in the world of racing.”
As families and fans crowded behind barriers to watch their hero, children sat on their parents' shoulders, while others climbed trees and memorials in search of a better view.
Perez signed for the fans and took pictures with them, before getting into a classic Cadillac convertible, waving to the crowds.
His Finnish colleague Valtteri Bottas also participated in the event, and received a warm reception despite not driving the car, after he addressed the audience in Spanish, saying: “I love tacos, I love Mexico.”
The Greek star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, led his new team, the Miami Heat, to its first victory this season in the NBA, at the expense of its host Atlanta Hawks, 129-117, on Wednesday.
Heat fans expected that Antetokounmpo, who won the league's Most Valuable Player award twice, would push the Heat, who joined him at the beginning of this season after 13 years in a Milwaukee Bucks jersey, immediately into the ranks of competitors in the Eastern Conference, but his first victory under Freeh's new jersey was not achieved until the fifth attempt.
Antetokounmpo, who achieved a “Triple Double” (3 double statistical categories) in the loss to the Dallas Mavericks two days ago, recorded distinguished numbers again with 24 points and 18 rebounds.
He starred alongside the 31-year-old Greek giant, Bam Adebayo, who scored 24 points and 9 rebounds, and Andrew Wiggins, who contributed 18 points.
Antetokounmpo reached the 1,000-steal mark in his career, while Adebayo recorded his name as the player with the most rebounds in Heat history with 5,794, surpassing the previous record of 5,791 rebounds, which was held by Yudonis Haslem during his career, which spanned 20 seasons.
“I have no words to describe my feeling,” Adebayo said in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. “I only wish I could have achieved this on our home soil and among our fans.”
The star-studded Philadelphia 76ers recovered from their disappointing loss on Sunday against the Detroit Pistons, by defeating the Indiana Pacers 114-109 in a match characterized by competition and the exchange of advantages.
The 76ers faced great difficulty in overcoming Indiana, which announced this week the absence of its star, Tyrese Haliburton, for nearly two weeks. Due to a hamstring injury.
The 76ers trailed in the score during the third quarter, which witnessed a clear advantage in favor of the hosts, but they succeeded in coming back strongly in the decisive moments to snatch the victory.
Tyrese Maxey scored 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, providing an amazing performance that saved his team from loss.
LeBron James, who came from the Los Angeles Lakers, only scored 13 points, but he excelled in passing with 10 assists, while Joel Embiid scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown added 20 points.
Maxey said: “Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and LeBron James urged me to be more aggressive offensively, after I lacked that in the first three quarters. When Brown returned to the field in the fourth quarter, he said to me: “You owe us, lead us to victory.”
He added: “I just have to do what the veteran players ask of me.”
