Three years after Nikola Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to the NBA championship, the team crashed out in the first round of the playoffs, losing 4-2 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 110-98 defeat on Thursday night ended Denver's streak of reaching at least the second round for four consecutive years.
Jokić, who recorded 28 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the elimination game, was effectively neutralised by four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert throughout the series. The three-time MVP said: 'We just lost in the first round, so I think we are far away.' He also noted that 'if we were in Serbia we would all be fired,' although he defended coach David Adelman, insisting the defeat was not his fault.
Jamal Murray struggled, shooting 4 for 17 and posting a game-worst minus-18 rating, as Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels smothered him. The Timberwolves, missing their top three guards, exploited Denver's weaknesses, scoring 64 points in the paint and grabbing 50 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels led the Wolves with 32 points and 10 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks secured a record-breaking 140-89 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6, winning the series 4-2. The Knicks led 40-15 after the first quarter—the largest first-quarter lead in the shot clock era—and 72-25 at halftime, the biggest halftime lead in playoff history. Karl-Anthony Towns had his second triple-double of the series, and OG Anunoby scored 29 points in 27 minutes.
In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers forced a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics with a 106-93 win at home. Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points and Paul George added 23 as Philadelphia never trailed. Joel Embiid contributed 19 points after returning early from an appendectomy. The decisive game will be played in Boston on Saturday.
