Perhaps the most animated Nikola Jokic has been all season was in reaction to a bucket in which he played no part.

Hidden at the end of the Nuggets’ bench , surrounded by a cohort of teammates five to 10 years younger than him — Jalen Pickett, Zeke Nnaji, Curtis Jones, Hunter Tyson, Peyton Watson — Jokic could’ve been mistaken for the 15th and final man on the roster, if you didn’t know any better.

One of the duties of an NBA reserve is to bring good vibes to the game while riding the bench. Stay engaged despite little to no playing time. Encourage teammates. React to questionable foul calls with adequate disapproval. Get hyped when there’s a cool dunk. Pretend to hold each other back.

Jokic isn’t exactly starved for playing time. He touches the basketball more than any other player

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