By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic put up a triple-double, his second in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, helping the Denver Nuggets finish the best-of-seven series in five games. Securing the narrow win, 112-109, in Ball Arena eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday evening.
The Serbian superstar, reigning back-to-back season MVP tallied 28 points behind 8/29 field goals, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists plus two steals and two blocks over 42 minutes. Complementing the Joker’s triple-double with a game-high 35 points, Jamal Murray was the enforcer for the team coached by Michael Malone. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar did not enter Game 5.
On the opposite end and wrapping up the 2022-23 campaign, French Rudy Gobert recorded a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double alongside two steals and two assists in 40 minutes. Anthony Edwards led the visitors with 29 points but missed the chance to push a second straight game of the series into overtime at the buzzer.
Batum and Zubac eliminated
Setting up a best-of-seven series opposite the Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 136-130, to win the Western Conference Quarterfinals best-of-seven series 4-1. Devin Booker scored 47 points to go with ten assists and eight rebounds, and Kevin Durant dropped 31 more points. Deandre Ayton registered a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Closing the season in his usual role as the starting center, Croatian Ivica Zubac posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, dished out two assists, and blocked one shot over 24 minutes in Footprint Center. French Nicolas Batum had 19 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists lasting 27 minutes as a reserve.
Trae Young, Hawks force Game 6
Reducing the series deficit to 3-2, the Atlanta Hawks avoided elimination with a 119-117 victory versus the Boston Celtics in TD Garden. Trae Young ended up with 38 points, including 16 points in the fourth quarter and a go-ahead three-pointer to complete the comeback with 2.8 seconds remaining in Game 5.
European contributions stretched between two starters. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal in 35 minutes. Swiss Clint Capela went for four points, seven rebounds, one block, and one assists over 21 minutes. Czech Vit Krejci did not play.
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