DENVER – Nikola Jokic received the Michael Jordan Award from Commissioner Adam Silver before the report and then turned in a memorable playoff performance to celebrate his third MVP trophy on Tuesday night.
Jokic scored 40 points and dished out 13 assists, and the Denver Nuggets defeated Anthony Edwards in a 112-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves that put the defending NBA champions one win away from the Western Conference finals.
Jokic also had seven rebounds without a turnover as the home team won for the first time in this semifinal series.
“He did everything for us tonight,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “And it was fun to watch.”
Jokic’s dominance made even his opponents smile.
“I just laugh. That’s all I can do,” Edwards said of watching Jokic score 16 points and assist on four other baskets in the third quarter as the Nuggets took control for another rout.
“I can’t be mad,” Edwards said. “He’s good, man. I think I said that after Game 1, when we won, and Game 2, he’s the MVP. He’s the best player in the NBA. He’s shown that in the last three games, three games in a row. He It was special tonight I have to give him flowers. He was that guy tonight.
Jokic even had another dunk, something he is not known for. When asked if Minnesota’s collection of rim protectors required such moves, Jokic responded: “You know, I’m a freak of nature. Why not show off my athletic ability?
Aaron Gordon added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Jamal Murray scored 16, saying that when Jokic is in action, there’s no need for anyone else to try to be the hero.
“If Jokic scores like that, there’s no need to do anything special,” Murray said.
Trapped and doubled up all night, Edwards had 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting. Karl Anthony-Towns led the Wolves with 23 points and Rudy Gobert scored 18.
“I think we did a great job, not just with (Edwards), but with everyone,” Murray said.
With their first three-game losing streak of the season, the Wolves will have to reverse their skid Thursday night at Target Center to force Game 7 back in Denver.
Jokic, who was presented with his third MVP trophy by commissioner Adam Silver in a pregame ceremony, scored 19 first-half points in leading Denver to a 50-44 halftime lead. He had 16 points in the third quarter as the Nuggets extended their lead to 14.
After the Wolves used a mini-run to get within 103-92, Jokic sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer over a helpless Gobert, who recently won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, to make it a 14-point cushion with just over 3 minutes remaining.
Edwards averaged 33.3 points in the first four games of the series and the Wolves were looking for someone to step up. Although KAT did just that, Edwards missed eight of his first nine shots, had five points by halftime and didn’t find his shooting touch until the game swung away from the Timberwolves.
Veteran Minnesota point guard Mike Conley was scratched shortly before kickoff with a sore right Achilles tendon. He was injured when he missed a 3-pointer on the Wolves’ final possession of Sunday’s loss. Nickeil Alexander-Walker started in his position and had 14 points and five assists.
In his pregame comments, Wolves coach Chris Finch also expressed dismay over the NBA’s fine of Rudy Gobert $75,000 for making a money gesture following a call from referee Scott Foster in Game 4.
That was $25,000 less than Murray was fined for his actions in Game 2, when he also made the money sign and threw a towel and heat pack toward an umpire.
When Towns went to the bench with his third foul late in the first half, Gobert pointed to Kyle Anderson, instructing him to guard Jokic. TNT announcer Reggie Miller was horrified by Gobert, saying, “You’re the defensive player of the year! You protect the MVP!
It didn’t matter who was protecting the three-time MVP that night.
“He’s incredible,” Murray said, “in the way he analyzes and reads the game and trusts his teammates. I suppose the fact that the big guy won the trophy tonight probably motivated him a little. Just being in the house was really fun, the place was rocking, I kind of felt the energy and he was definitely excited.”
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Updated summary and story to show Jokic had 13 assists, not rebounds.
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