Nikola Jokic lifts Nuggets to emotional win over the East-leading Celtics after getting loving message from his late mentor, Dejan Milojevic, relayed to him posthumously after the Warriors assistant coach’s fatal heart attack

Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to an inspiring victory over the East-leading Boston Celtics on Friday night at the Garden, finishing with 34 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as he continues to mourn the death of his beloved former coach, Dejan Milojevic.

“I’ve been nothing but supporting him, comforting him and hugging him the last few days,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after his team inflicted its first home loss of the season on Boston. “Nikola went there and honored Dejan’s memory and his legacy by playing at the level he played at. Not easy to do with a heavy heart. But Nikola is a special person.’

The 46-year-old, a former Serbian power forward nicknamed “Deki,” was in his third season as an assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors when he suffered a fatal heart attack during a team dinner in Salt Lake City this week. Previously, Milojevic coached a young Jokic at a Serbian club team in Belgrade before the rookie MVP made the jump to the NBA.

Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP, enjoyed a Celtics defense that opted not to double-team him for most of the game. He was efficient, connecting on 14 of 22 field attempts. It didn’t stop him from finding his teammates either, as he had nine of his assists in the first three quarters. Teammate Jamal Murray also played solid, going 15-of-22 from the field.

Murray said Jokic’s reaction on the field as he absorbed the emotions of Milosevic’s passing was “amazing.”

Assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors, DeJan Milojevic talks to Nikola Jokic in 2022

Milojevic is seen with his arm around his former student Jokic after coaching him in Belgrade

The Utah Jazz will hold a moment of silence in memory of Dejan Milojevic prior to Thursday’s game

Malone said it was a necessary effort against a Boston defense that ranked third in the league in defensive efficiency.

“They played for themselves and for other people,” Malone said. “It was high-level basketball from two All-Star players.”

Since the tragedy, Warriors coach Steve Kerr relayed a message from Milojevic to Jokic.

“When we knew he was in hospital, I contacted Steve Kerr, and he got back to me straight away. He was at the hospital with Deki and his family earlier this week, Malone in Boston, as quoted by the Denver Post. “And when he finally passed away, Steve let me know that he had passed. And he wanted me to know how much Deki loved Nikola, and how proud he was of him. And that’s what I was just trying to share with Nikola.

“I just went through this with my dad,” Malone said, referring to the recent death of former NBA coach Brendan Malone. “Losing someone you care about is very difficult, and the most important thing Nikola needs to know is that Deki truly loved him.

“And now it’s up to Nikola to continue his legacy. On the field, off the field, how he lives and to ensure that Decky’s name is still talked about.’