Moment Stephen A. Smith Swears Live on First Take While ESPN Analyst Turns Blue During Debate About NBA Star Nikola Jokic

STEPHEN A. Smith gave an impassioned speech about the NBA MVP during Friday’s episode of First Take.

The Denver Nuggets were eliminated in the sixth game of their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic looked ready to get revenge.

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After losing three straight games, the Timberwolves held firm as they faced elimination and destroyed the Nuggets 115-70.

In the contest, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards had 27 points, four rebounds and four assists.

On the opposite side, Jokic added 22 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Jokic looked furious late in the game, and Stephen A. said it was his way of saying the Nuggets are coming back strong in game seven.

“He was standing and just looking at them,” Stephen A. said.

“He had that look on his face like, ‘I’m going to get you idiots.

“It was one of those looks, you know what I’m saying? Obviously I have Minnesota winning the series, but you know that.

“You know what that look is about, there are certain things you just saw.

“It’s one thing to just sit on the bench, it was a bad night, you know, ‘damn, we’re going to get this and that’s fine.’

“But it’s another thing entirely when the superstar who is the best player in the world, who is a three-time league MVP, and happens to be the reigning NBA champion, is standing there looking at them.

“Not just looking at his own teammates, but looking at Minnesota like, ‘I’m going to get you, I’m not going away.’”

Minnesota initially appeared to have control of the series, taking a 2–0 lead after winning the first two games in Denver.

However, the Nuggets fought back, winning the next two games in Minnesota and then the fifth game at home.

Game Six returned to Minnesota, and the Timberwolves made a statement with their 115-70 victory, forcing Game Seven for a spot in the Western Conference Finals.

NBA PLAYOFF SERIES UPDATES

Currently, only one playoff series is decided. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 4-1 after several key players suffered injuries.

The Celtics now hold one of the Eastern Conference finals spots, their third consecutive year there.

The Knicks play their sixth game against the Pacers on Friday night with a chance to close out the series and punch their ticket to their first ECF since the 1999-2000 season.

The Mavericks and Thunder will meet in game six on Saturday, with Dallas currently holding a 3-2 series lead.

Dallas won game five 104-92 and has a chance to return to the WCF for the first time since 2022.

The Eastern Conference Finals will begin on Tuesday, May 21. The Western Conference Finals have not yet been scheduled.

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