After defeating his club in Friday’s NBA In-Season Tournament opening, Denver Nuggets standout Nikola Jokic kissed Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic on the cheek.

Jokic, 28, is from Serbia, where males kiss each other on the cheek, particularly among loved ones and close friends. He and Doncic, who is from Slovenia, have a terrific friendship and frequently greet each other with a kiss.

Doncic, 24, had a game-high 34 points, 10 rebounds, and was two assists shy of a triple-double, while Jokic was one dime short with one fewer point and four more rebounds.

Jokic and the Nuggets are now 5-1 to begin the 2023 NBA season. Meanwhile, the Mavericks improve to 4-1.

Doncic and Jokic also spoke briefly after the hard-fought battle, possibly intending to chat further before the Mavericks leave Ball Arena.

Nikola Jokic is an efficient player.

Jokic scored 33 points on 14-of-16 shooting from the field, while Doncic took 24 shots (11 made) to score one more point than the Serbian.

Both stars received assistance from the supporting cast, which included Kyrie Irving, who led Dallas with 22 points.