DENVER – Nikola Jokic received his third Most Valuable Player award from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, then celebrated by dominating Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Denver Nuggets superstar exploded for 40 points, 13 assists and 7 rebounds with no turnovers to lead Denver to a 112-97 victory Tuesday night in Game 5 at a raucous Ball Arena.
Denver now leads 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinal series and can advance to the conference finals with a victory in Game 6 Thursday in Minneapolis.
“I didn’t see any weaknesses (in our defense),” Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards said. “I saw the MVP. He showed he was the MVP.”
Even by Jokic’s glowing MVP standards, the center put on a clinic against Gobert, the new four-time Defensive Player of the Year and the best defense in the NBA this season. Jokic converted 15 of 22 shots, but was 8 of 9 when Gobert was his primary defender.
“Unbelievable,” said Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, who had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. “He played incredible. The three-time MVP dominated the entire game, in every aspect. Unbelievable. It was ridiculous.”
The reigning NBA Finals MVP hit Gobert and the Wolves with a dizzying array of spin moves, hook shots, 3-pointers (two of them) and even rare dunks in transition.
“I mean, I had the path open and just — I’m a freak of nature,” Jokic deadpanned of his snaps. “And why not show off my athletic skills.”
Jokic’s night was so good that his opponents couldn’t do anything but laugh. His last 3-pointer was in isolation at the top of the arc against Gobert. Jokic made a step-back jumper with Gobert covered on top of him with 3:09 left in the contest. All Gobert could do was raise his arm in the air in challenge. As the Wolves called timeout 14, Gobert’s arm sank as if all the air had been knocked out of him.
“I just laughed,” Edwards said in reaction to Jokic’s performance. “That’s all I can do. I can’t be mad, because he’s good, man. I think I said that after the first game, when we won, and the second game. He’s the MVP. He’s the best player in the NBA; he showed it in the last three games, three games in a row.”
“He was special tonight,” added Edwards, limited to 18 points and nine assists. “I have to give her her flowers. I don’t know what we were supposed to do.”
Since Jokic was named this season’s MVP last Wednesday, the Nuggets have won three straight games to take control of the series. In the three wins, Jokic averaged 33 points, 9.7 assists and 9.3 rebounds and shot 61% from the field.
“Nikola was named MVP after that Game 2 loss,” Denver coach Michael Malone said of the Nuggets’ embarrassing 106-80 loss to the Wolves on May 6. “And I think over the last three games, he’s shown everyone why he’s arguably one of the best, best players to play this game.”
Tuesday’s outing was Jokic’s fifth career 40-point game in the playoffs, but it was the first time he won by scoring 40 or more points. He joined Chris Paul as the only players to total 40 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in a playoff game since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78, according to a study by ESPN Stats & Information.
Even though Jokic was named MVP last week, he didn’t receive Silver’s Michael Jordan Trophy until Tuesday night.
Jokic had 19 points and 8 assists at halftime. But in the third quarter, he was surgical. He made 6 of 7 shots and scored 16 points. Gobert and the Wolves were helpless as Jokic fueled a 36-21 run in the third to turn a one-point deficit into a 14-point lead.
Jokic buried and took turnaround hook shots and seemed to have a counter to whatever Gobert tried to use to slow him down.
“When he starts and he throws up that stupid one-legged, one-armed thing behind the backboard (shot), I just go back to defense,” said Denver guard Jamal Murray, who scored 16 points. “It’s amazing to see how he analyzes, reads the game and trusts his teammates. Obviously winning the trophy tonight probably motivated him a little.”
Jokic said he just hopes to have one more counter than Gobert when the two face each other. Malone, however, said there is another level to Jokic’s genius.
“His IQ is off the charts. He probably belongs to Mensa (International),” Malone said of the high-IQ organization. “He probably doesn’t even know what Mensa is.”
Jokic will remember that night, especially how it started, when he received the MVP award in front of roaring fans.
“I just think about the love from the crowd that you can feel from the teammates and the coaches,” Jokic said. “I think it’s just a moment that I remember for the rest of my life.”
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