By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic has registered five blocks in the two wins that the Denver Nuggets have grabbed over Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals. This number wouldn’t look that big if the “Joker” didn’t have just four blocks overall in all other playoff games so far.
“In the last two days, my vertical grew so much, it’s amazing,” Jokic said with a wide smile in a zoom call after being asked if he changed anything in these two matches. “I don’t know how much… I’m jumping so high. Jokic said with a wide smile in a zoom call”
“I don’t know what happened,” Jokic added, on a slightly more serious tone. “Charles [Klask – Nuggets‘ assistant coach] told us we need a little better rim protection. By that meaning… deflections, even blocks. It seems like I had a couple of blocks. Actually, the one in the last game was kind of important, wasn’t it? We took the lead after that block I think.”
Jokic had three blocks in the Game 2 win and two in the comeback victory in Game 5, where the Nuggets played with their backs against a wall after falling behind 1-3. The Serbian big man also posted 22 points, 14 rebounds plus five assists to help his team stay alive in the series.
The Nuggets will face the Clippers in yet another must-win battle, this time to tie the score on Sunday (13/9).