DENVER— Nikola Jokic minimized the clash between teams at the top of the Western Conference standings and then put on a show for the ages – and for anyone who still doubts he’s the best player in the world.
Jokic, the odds-on favorite to win a third MVP trophy, recorded his 20th career 40-point game Wednesday night in leading the Denver Nuggets past the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107.
Jokic scored 41 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists and made 16 of 20 shots against the NBA’s best defense, while being guarded most of the night by the league’s best defenseman, Rudy Gobert, along with Naz Reid. And all in front of the 41st sellout at Ball Arena and a national television audience on ESPN.
“Nikola always embraces the physicality. He never shies away from it,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Rudy Gobert will one day be a Hall of Fame player. Rudy Gobert will be considered one of the best defensemen of his generation. And it just says how great Nikola is. I don’t think anyone in the NBA can Guarding Nikola 1-on-1.”
Jamal Murray added 20 points in 27 minutes and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 for the Nuggets, who pulled away by holding Anthony Edwards without a bucket in the fourth quarter.
Edwards led Minnesota with 25 points but was not a factor in the fourth as Denver’s reserves put on a show with Peyton Watson’s six blocks and Christian Braun’s rattling dunks.
Jokic was eager to talk about the Nuggets’ closers.
“They were great,” he said. “P-What, it seemed like he was going all over the place. He was just full of energy. And CB, that two minute sequence, it was really great. I was happy for those guys. I don’t think they get it. There’s enough credit for what they do on the floor, and they help us with energy and effort. We need them.”
As for his MVP chances, which he certainly boosted Wednesday night, Jokic demurred, saying, “I think I’m playing good basketball. The team is playing good basketball. I think there’s a lot of guys playing really good basketball in the league .” and a few guys deserve that distinction.”
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Edwards said Jokic kept blocking the path to the basket, so he had no choice but to dish and his teammates’ shots just weren’t falling: “He’s just there, so I can’t go anywhere,” Edwards said.
The Nuggets (56-24) took a one-game lead over Minnesota and Oklahoma City, both of which are 55-25 in the West. The Thunder defeated San Antonio 127-89 on Wednesday night to stay within striking distance of the conference’s top seed.
The defending NBA champion Nuggets are one of the best in the West at home at 33-8, where they took the No. 1 seed to a 10-1 playoff record last year en route to winning the nation’s first NBA title the franchise.
Jokic downplayed the significance of this confrontation, suggesting, “I don’t think it’s a real big game.” However, Edwards insisted this was as big as a regular season game can get.
“We knew what would determine this game,” Edwards said. “If we won it, we knew we could potentially be No. 1, and if we lost it, we knew they could potentially be No. 1. I think we cared before, but now that we lost we can’t do anything about it.”
Denver trailed for much of the evening, but closed the third quarter on a 9-1 run to take an 83-80 lead in a fourth period they completely dominated.
Entering the playoffs in optimal health is more important than entering the postseason as the top seed in the West, suggested Malone, who has said for weeks that he is confident his team can win anywhere, anytime, regardless of seeding.
The Wolves were less than full strength in the playoffs a year ago, but still gave the Nuggets the toughest time of any opponent on Denver’s journey to the title. And no matter which seed Minnesota gets, Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) returns take action this weekend.
So despite this disappointment in Denver, the Timberwolves are roaring into the play-offs instead of stumbling in like a year ago.
“It would be a lot easier because he’s going to score 25 points every night,” Edwards said. “He walks around the gym with 25 points.”
NEXT ONE
Timberwolves: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Nuggets: Visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
