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Despite finishing the game with an 8-for-25 shooting performance, which included a dismal 0-for-10 from beyond the arc, and recording eight turnovers, Nikola Jokic celebrated a significant victory for the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
“I focused on being aggressive, setting solid screens, and taking shots whenever I was open,” he described his personal struggles in an interview with Katy Winge of AltitudeTV after his team edged out the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime. “Our defense during the fourth quarter and the overtime period was stellar, and I think that was the key to our success.”
Under the leadership of David Adelman, the Nuggets advanced to a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven matchup in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
“They play with a lot of aggression, being physical and active in the passing lanes. I really can’t grasp their strategy. If I could, I wouldn’t be making those errors,” remarked the Serbian star. “I need to figure out their tactics.”
On a challenging shooting night, Jokic nonetheless recorded a double-double with 20 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and two steals over the course of 43 minutes.
“Honestly, I felt like I was the least effective player on the court tonight. But the important thing is that we won,” he minimized his performance.
Throughout seven games against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round and the ongoing series, the Sombor native has averaged 24.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks per postseason game.
The Nuggets will host the Thunder at Ball Arena for Game 4, which will kick off the latest edition of NBA Sundays.
