“Time TV”
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The Serbian massive man, who obtained his third MVP trophy forward of the sport, registered 40 factors, 13 assists – with zero turnovers – and 7 rebounds to elevate Denver to a 3-2 sequence lead, its first on this Western Convention semifinal.
Jokić’s dissection of Minnesota is all of the extra spectacular given it was towards the NBA’s finest protection and the league’s newly topped four-time Defensive Participant of the Yr, Rudy Gobert.
So good was Jokić’s efficiency that teammates and opponents alike have been lavishing him with reward after the sport.
Nuggets ahead Aaron Gordon referred to as Jokić’s efficiency “unbelievable.”
“He performed wonderful,” he instructed reporters, per ESPN. “The three-time MVP simply dominated all the sport, in each facet of it. Astounding. That was ridiculous.”
Minnesota’s rising celebrity Anthony Edwards mentioned he “didn’t see any weaknesses” within the staff’s protection, however Jokić “confirmed that he’s the MVP.”
“I simply chortle,” Edwards mentioned. “That’s all I can do. I can’t be mad, as a result of he’s good, man. I feel I mentioned that after Sport 1 once we received, and Sport 2. He’s the MVP. He’s the perfect participant within the NBA, he confirmed it the final three video games, three video games in a row. He did it tonight.
“He was particular tonight. I bought to provide him his flowers. I don’t know what we have been speculated to do.”
Gordon contributed with 18 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, however it was a quieter evening for Jokić’s operating mate Jamal Murray, who put up 16 factors and 4 assists within the win.
For the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Cities scored a team-high 23 factors to go along with six rebounds and 4 assists, whereas Edwards was held to simply 18 factors on 5-for-15 taking pictures.
After dropping the primary two video games within the sequence at house, defending champions Denver have roared again with three straight wins and might guide their spot within the Western Convention finals with a win in Minneapolis on Thursday.
Solely 5 groups in NBA historical past have come again to win a best-of-seven sequence when dropping the primary two at house.
“Nikola was named MVP after that Sport 2 loss and I feel the final three video games, he has proven all people why he’s arguably top-of-the-line gamers to play this sport,” Denver head coach Michael Malone added.
Jalen Brunson continued his exemplary playoff kind with a 44-point efficiency to steer the New York Knicks to a blowout 121-91 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
The Knicks now lead the sequence 3-2 and a win in Indianapolis in Sport 6 on Friday evening will guide the franchise’s place in its first Jap Convention finals since 2000.
Brunson, who bounced again impressively after a poor exhibiting in Sport 4, additionally added seven assists and 4 rebounds. He has now scored a minimum of 40 factors in 5 video games on this yr’s playoffs thus far, essentially the most of any participant since LeBron James had eight within the 2018 postseason, per ESPN.
Pascal Siakam scored a staff excessive 22 factors for the Pacers, however it was a quiet evening for star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 13 factors and took solely 9 photographs all sport.
The house staff has received each sport on this sequence thus far, so Indiana will possible be feeling assured it may prolong this semifinal to a Sport 7.
