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Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic hints at what really decided Timberwolves series
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Despite starting slow versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night, Nikola Jokic scored a team-high 28 points on 57.9 percent shooting and was one rebound shy of a triple-double. He performed like a superstar in this one, but the Denver Nuggets are still heading for a painfully long offseason following a 110-98 loss in Game 6 of their opening-round playoff series. Jokic is accepting the lion’s share of the blame .
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“I needed to play better and I must play better,” he said, per AltitudeTV’s Katy Winge, referring specifically to the first three games of this Western Conference showdown. “They were better in this series definitely.”
The 2023 NBA Finals MVP and three-time regular season MVP could not navigate four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert from Games 2-4, shooting 40 percent, 26.9 percent and 36.4 percent in those contests, respectively. Even when he regained his form in the latter part of the series, Jokic continued to struggle from distance. He shot just 19.4 percent from 3-point range and averaged 3.8 turnovers in this six-game war with Minnesota.
The top guys have to come through in the playoffs, and the supremely skilled center had too many cold stretches. Nevertheless, he cannot carry the entire burden on his shoulders. There is plenty of accountability to go around .
What went wrong for the Nuggets?
Besides Jokic and Cameron Johnson , who dropped 27 points and made five treys, no other Nuggets player scored more than 13 points in Game 6. Jamal Murray shockingly posted a 35.7 field goal percentage for the series, incurring some additional damage to his previously pristine playoff reputation. Christian Braun and Sixth Man of the Year finalist Tim Hardaway Jr. also needed to give more.
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Aaron Gordon battled a calf issue and was sidelined for three games, while Peyton Watson missed the entire series with a hamstring strain, but Denver cannot play the injury card against Minnesota. The Timberwolves overcame the loss of both Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo , and yet, they still took care of business in the Target Center.
Jaden McDaniels called out the Nuggets’ defense and then produced one of the best performances of his career — 32 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. There is nothing that can be said to ease the anguish fans are feeling right now. Although the team has talent, it also has glaring deficiencies.
Nikola Jokic is pointing the finger at himself, but there has to be some concern about his future with the franchise. With a contract extension and 2027 player option looming, Denver must move with an overwhelming sense of urgency this summer.
Related: Why Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels belongs in ‘S**t-Talker Hall of Fame’ after Nuggets series
Related: Nuggets’ Jamal Murray points finger at himself for getting punked by Jaden McDaniels
