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Since David Adelman stepped in as the interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets in early April, Nikola Jokic has been more vocal, extending his contributions from the court to offering insights during timeouts.
His extensive knowledge and experience began garnering attention late in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season and during the 2025 Playoffs presented by Google, aiding the Nuggets in getting back on track.
When asked how often he discusses offensive and defensive strategies with Adelman, Jokic remarked, “A lot. Even when I notice something and pose a question, he reflects on it. I believe we have excellent communication.”
By avoiding elimination on Thursday, the Nuggets pushed the series to a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This critical matchup for both teams will take place at Paycom Center on Sunday.
“It’s intriguing,” the Serbian star said after Game 6 at Ball Arena, discussing the best-of-seven series. “We were in the lead in the previous game, and they took it from us at the end. Even in Game 4, we had the advantage, but they seized it back. This is the first game where we led and maintained that lead until the finish.”
Regarding Game 7, he expressed hope for a competitive showdown, saying, “Hopefully, it will be a close one,” indicating his enjoyment of tight games.
After struggling with 36 out of 92 field goals in Games 1 through 4, Jokic responded with a strong performance, hitting 26 out of 39 shots in Games 5 and 6.
“I believe we play through me quite a bit. Others are setting screens for me, and I’m doing the same. It’s a mix of posting up and shooting. That’s our playing style. I didn’t really realize it at the time, but I think we did a lot that contributed to our success,” he stated when asked if the increased screen-setting boosted his rhythm in the recent games.
Unlike in Game 5 where he played the entire fourth quarter, Jokic spent eight minutes on the court in the fourth in this game, scoring 11 points on a perfect 3/3 shooting, helping his team gain a solid advantage.
“Sometimes it feels like, ‘Maybe I should just play,’ and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not sure; it doesn’t follow a specific pattern,” he downplayed the potential effects of his playing time on the outcomes of both games.
The winner of Game 7 will advance to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, enjoying home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.
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