Nikola Jokić stole the show as he carried the Denver Nuggets to an upset 121-119 win. That stunning victory was over the heavily favored, number one seeded Oklahoma City Thunder during the Western Conference semi-finals on Monday evening. Jokić proved his prowess by finishing with 42 points. He recorded 28 points and snatched 22 boards, showcasing why he is the heart and soul of the Nuggets.
On offense and defense, the game exposed Jokić’s increasingly aggressive playing style, as he ended up with 5 fouls for the game. He picked up three fouls in literally two minutes of the third quarter. This caused alarm for his long-term viability on the court. With all those obstacles, Jokić held it together. He undoubtedly put on the KJ finest performance imaginable that carried his team to victory despite trailing by as much as nine points at one stage in the game.
The Nuggets made it through as the No. 4 seed in the playoff. On Saturday, they simply finished off a wild seven-game series with the Los Angeles Clippers. Yet, they ran into a fresh-legged Thunder team that hadn’t played in more than a week. This disparity in prep time made for a more intense rivalry matchup.
Through two quarters, Jokić was surprisingly reserved, picking up just one foul. His flagrant 1 for an elbow to Lu Dort’s head landed him in a precarious situation. As the game wore on, his situation became even more dire. Even given these drawbacks, his shot-making ability would be key when the Nuggets were trailing 104-95 in the fourth quarter.
Jokić had another incredible performance. In the absence of stars, Jamal Murray rose to the occasion with 21 points, quelling runs and ensuring Denver hung on for the victory. The Nuggets’ grit was unmistakable, and you couldn’t help but admire them for fighting back against a worthy adversary on their turf.
“When I shot it, did I know it was in?” – Gordon