By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The San Antonio Spurs insisted on double-teaming Nikola Jokic, but the 24-year-old Serbian and the Denver Nuggets answered in a big way this time around. After falling in a 1-0 and 2-1 hole, the Nuggets got the lead in the 2019 NBA Playoffs opening round for the first time on Tuesday.
The Joker only needed 33 minutes for 16 points, 11 rebounds, eight dimes, two steals and one rejection. He simply ran through everything the opponents threw at him during Game 5 sparking the comfortable victory. He now has four double-doubles in the best-of-seven series including the Game 1 triple-double.
The Nuggets rested Jokic and the rest of their starters after creating a 30-point lead. “I mean, we’re growing. We’re both really passionate about basketball. So when we have some good plays or whatever, we just want to express our feelings” the Serbian forward/center mentioned after the match.
Game 6 will be played at San Antonio and Game 7, if needed, at the Pepsi Center. If Jokic and the Nuggets clinch the series, they will go on facing the Portland Trail Blazers with home-court advantage in the Western Conference Semifinals as well.