DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic obtained the Michael Jordan award from Commissioner Adam Silver earlier than tipoff, then delivered a memorable playoff efficiency to have fun his third MVP trophy Tuesday evening.
Jokic scored 40 factors and dished out 13 assists and the Denver Nuggets shut down Anthony Edwards in a 112-97 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves that put the reigning NBA champs one win away from the Western Convention finals.
Jokic additionally had seven rebounds with no turnovers as the house group gained for the primary time on this semifinal sequence.
“He did the whole lot for us tonight,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated. “And it was enjoyable to look at.”
The Nuggets have surged in entrance of their Western Convention semi-final sequence with Minnesota. Correspondent Bruce Morton has particulars from Denver.
Jokic’s domination even had his opponents smiling.
“I simply snigger. That’s all I can do,” Edwards stated of watching Jokic go off for 16 factors and help on 4 different baskets within the third quarter when the Nuggets seized management for one more rout.
“I can’t be mad,” Edwards stated. “He’s good, man. I feel I stated that after Sport 1 after we gained, and Sport 2, he’s the MVP. He’s one of the best participant in NBA. He confirmed it the final three video games, three video games in a row. He was particular tonight. I’ve acquired to provide him his flowers. He was that man tonight.”
Jokic even had one other rim-rattling dunk, one thing he’s not recognized for. When requested if Minnesota’s assortment of rim protectors necessitated such strikes, Jokic cracked, “You understand, I’m a freak of nature. Why not exhibit my athleticism?”
Aaron Gordon added 18 factors and 10 boards, and Jamal Murray scored 16, saying when Jokic has it going, there’s no want for anybody else to attempt to be the hero.
“If Jokic’s scoring like that, there’s no must do something particular,” Murray stated.
Trapped and doubled all evening, Edwards was held to 18 factors on 5-of-15 taking pictures. Karl Anthony-Cities led the Wolves with 23 factors and Rudy Gobert scored 18.
“I feel we did an incredible job, not simply on (Edwards) however everyone,” Murray stated.
With their first three-game dropping streak of the season, the Wolves must snap their skid Thursday evening at Goal Middle to drive a Sport 7 again in Denver.
Jokic, who was offered together with his third MVP trophy by commissioner Adam Silver in a pregame ceremony, scored 19 first-half factors in main Denver to a 50-44 lead on the half. He added 16 factors within the third quarter when the Nuggets pushed their result in 14.
After the Wolves used a mini-run to tug to 103-92, Jokic nailed a 3-pointer on the shot clock buzzer over a helpless Gobert, who just lately gained his fourth NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr award, to make it a 14-point cushion with simply over 3 minutes left.
Edwards averaged 33.3 factors within the first 4 video games of the sequence and the Wolves have been searching for anyone else to step up. Though KAT did simply that, Edwards missed eight of his first 9 photographs, had 5 factors at halftime and didn’t discover his taking pictures contact till the sport had gotten away from the Timberwolves.
Minnesota’s veteran level guard Mike Conley was scratched simply earlier than tipoff with a sore proper Achilles. He was injured when he missed a 3-pointer on the Wolves’ last possession of their loss on Sunday. Nickeil Alexander-Walker began in his spot and had 14 factors and 5 assists.
In his pre-game feedback, Wolves coach Chris Finch additionally expressed dismay on the NBA fining Rudy Gobert $75,000 for making a cash gesture following a name by referee Scott Foster in Sport 4.
That was $25,000 lower than Murray was fined for his actions in Sport 2, when he, too, made the cash signal and threw each a towel and a warmth pack towards an official.
When Cities went to the bench together with his third foul late within the first half, Gobert pointed at Kyle Anderson, instructing him to protect Jokic. TNT announcer Reggie Miller was aghast at Gobert, saying, “You’re the Defensive Participant of the Yr! You guard the MVP!”
It mattered little who was guarding the three-time MVP on this evening.
“He’s superb,” Murray stated, “simply the way in which he picks aside the sport and reads the sport and trusts his teammates. I’m guessing that for the massive fella getting the trophy tonight in all probability motivated him a bit bit. Simply being at dwelling was numerous enjoyable, the place was rocking, sort of felt the vitality and he positively had it going.”
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The abstract and story has been up to date to point out Jokic had 13 assists, not rebounds.
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